END THE WAR ON DRUGS

Letter writer Edward Sugden pleads with us not to "unleash" marijuana.
("Don't unleash the marijuana monster," May 21). But compared to "such a
monster as alcohol," marijuana is more like a mouse.

Both alcohol and marijuana are mood-altering drugs. Alcohol will make you
silly, sloppy and sometimes violent. Marijuana will make you silly, then
sleepy. Rather than leading to violence, marijuana is a pacifier. Rather
than leading to depression, marijuana is a mood lifter -- hence the term
"high."

Our government needs to withdraw from the war on drugs. It needs to stop
imposing morals upon its citizens. Studies show that marijuana users are
not a societal risk. Our own Canadian Medical Association Journal says
moderate marijuana use is not a significant health risk.

Marijuana should be legalized and regulated. Anything less is unjustifiable.

Neil MacNaughton
Oakville