We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com.

MARIJUANA NOT HARMLESS

Parents and teens need to know that marijuana use is not harmless and it has serious risks, particularly for the developing brain, which is not fully developed until age 25 (“Trading places,” by Patrick Yeagle, Oct. 20).

People have died after consuming high-potent THC marijuana. As an example, two college-age men committed suicide, and a woman was murdered when her husband began hallucinating after eating marijuana candy.

A major review in the scientific journal Addiction tells of the adverse health effects of cannabis use on mental and physical health. One in 10 regular marijuana users will develop dependence, and the rate increases to 1 in 6 for those who begin using the drug during adolescence. Regular marijuana use doubles the risk of experiencing psychotic symptoms and disorders, especially if they have a personal or family history of psychotic disorders and begin using during their mid-teens.

An Australian study found that daily pot users are up to seven times more likely to commit suicide, 60 percent less likely to finish high school, and are eight times more likely to use illegal drugs later in life, reported the Daily Mail.

A new report on the impact of the legalization of marijuana noted Colorado stands out as the only state which is the top consumer of opioid painkillers for non-medical use, marijuana, alcohol and cocaine. Marijuana-related traffic deaths, emergency department visits related to marijuana, and crime have all increased in Colorado.

For more information, contact Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems at 546-6871. Anita Bedell, executive director Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems

CONGRATS WINNERS

Every year I join the rest of Springfield in rushing to check out the Illinois Times’ “Best Of Springfield” list. I’m always glad to see old favorites and discover new people, places and things that make our community great.

And as the executive director of Local First Springfield, I’m always very proud that so many of our members make the list. It turns out local independent business owners – people who work hard every day to operate the best places to dine, drink, shop and make your hair look lovely – are also the places IT readers appreciate for their commitment to high quality at a great price. Springfield citizens are remarkable in their awareness that spending their dollars locally keeps more money here in the community.

Congratulations to this year’s winners and finalists, and especially the Local First members and shoppers, for giving your all to make Springfield a great place to live and work. Bill McMahon Springfield

TRUMP SHOWS STRENGTH

Michelle Sullivan, the author of “One-sidedness vs balance,” (“Letters,” Illinois Times, Oct. 20) is obviously a pro-Hillary piece and very confused historically. In the last eight years, we have been degraded on the world stage by having Obama and Hillary in charge. Weakness leads to war; strength avoids war. The writer thinks drawing a red line in Syria is strength but it led to a nightmare in Aleppo, which continues as the red line keeps moving. She thinks giving Iran (a world supporter of terrorism) billions of dollars was a great deal even though they are obviously developing longrange weapons for some reason.

She has no problem with the “reset button” that translated means “screw you” when Putin invaded the Balkans. Then you have our open southern border and Hillary caught on tape proclaiming that this was always her goal.

The world is much more dangerous than it was eight years ago and taking our time and negotiating with terrorists has not worked. History has taught us it never will. Trump is the right choice because he will show the world strength, and terrorists understand only one thing: strength. It has been missing for much too long, and it really is time to “Make America Great Again.” Jerald Jacobs Springfield