MARIJUANA USE AFFECTS ALL

Mark J. Barrow (letters, May 19) asks: "Does anyone in the universe besides
the U.S. Supreme Court care if somebody smokes weed." The answer is yes. I,
along with a lot of other people, believe that pot is dangerous to a
person's health, possibly leading to stronger drugs, and gives mixed
messages to our youths.

Long-term mental and physical health issues arise especially when the
smoker decides pot is not enough anymore. The medicinal benefits of pot, if
any, are available via prescription. Drug use creates nonproductive
individuals wanting to lie around all day with the illusion that they are
thinking or being creative. When they run out, they are destructive and
cranky. Pot for medicinal purposes is a ploy to get a foot in the door for
future legalization (i.e. decriminalization).

The most important issue of all is the mixed message we give our youths,
that pot must be OK because adults want to decriminalize it. Where's our
accountability as adults. It's the adults who are growing it in huge
quantities. It's the adults who are selling it to youths who are reselling
it to other youths. It's also the adults who push to decriminalize it. The
adults are the problem; the youths are the result.

Nor do I believe that aggressive marijuana use is a victimless crime.
Families, businesses and neighborhoods are deeply affected by it.

Judy Nathan
Eugene