Rules are more helpful than hurtful

Next year I am, hopefully, going to be attending college. Currently I am a senior in high school and already know many “potheads.” Even though some of my close friends like to use pot heavily, I am glad that colleges are making the decision to restrict pot on campus [“Despite legalization, campus pot restricted,” NWThursday, Nov. 29].

A study done at MIT in 2008 found that the human brain is not fully developed until the approximate age of 25. Therefore pot can be damaging to the brain for users under the age of 25. This then makes me wonder whether we should raise the legal age limit, to better protect the younger users. At this time the legal age for possession of one ounce of marijuana is 21.

Once again, many of my peers may find this to be very different from their own viewpoint, but I believe the colleges’ decision will help us more than hurt us. Despite what society may assume of my generation, I agree with what the colleges have decided and hope that they are able to find a fair way to enforce their decision. I also believe that my fellow students will understand the colleges’ point of view.
—Mairead Corrigan, Seattle