SECONDHAND POT SMOKE CAN BE DANGEROUS

There is a public health outrage unknown to the general public. I
have been a lifelong nonsmoker who has pleaded for restrictions in
restaurants over the years. Little has been done since Governor
Cuomo's legislation quite a few years ago.

I thought it was bad enough to have to tolerate and inhale cigarette
smoke in many public places, but it never dawned on me that illegal
smoking, namely marijuana could be taking place.

I was exposed to such smoking innocently My intent is to warn people
that this also can happen to you. I have chosen to be a nonsmoker all
of my life, let alone pot.

I have spoken with Syracuse, Albany and New York City health
officials. Surprisingly, New York City was the only one to
conclusively state that indeed, exposure to secondhand pot smoke in a
bar setting can indeed invade your system and remain evident for up to
30 days. This means that blood and urine tests can be "hot for pot"
whether you have smoked it of not.

The repercussions of this are deplorable. A perfectly innocent person
of any age, your son or daughter, could be pulled over for a routine
traffic check and be accused of illegal drug use by being exposed in a
public social setting.

I thought I hated cigarette smoking before, but this knowledge of
illicit secondhand smoke is so outrageous as to be truly frightening.
Your son or daughter may want to be a teacher or doctor. You have
worked hard all of your life to raise them right, send them to college
and nurture a positive image. All of this can be ruined in a moment
from someone else doing illegal smoking in a public place.

Most local contacts here have been instructed that you would have to
be in an enclosed phone booth or closet inhaling pot smoke for up to
12 hours to have it show up in your system.

Surprise! That may appease the masses to prevent a public outcry for
now, but I have experienced otherwise. The Drug Hot Line I spoke with
in New York City confirms otherwise. Having been in a bar setting for my birthday for around four hours, produced alleged detectable traces. Don't let this happen to you or a loved one. Demand smoke free
public places.

It should be the bar or restaurant owner's responsibility to ensure
that a patron's health and well-being and reputation remain intact.

If CAID (Citizens Against Illegal Drugs) and other drug war efforts
want true results, start by enforcing across the board nonsmoking in
all public places, just like California has. Cigarettes are just as
dangerous. They just happen to be legal and turning a corporate
profit. They are just glorified pot without present legal
restrictions.

Patrick H. Grutter, Watertown, NY