GATEWAY THEORY DOESN'T HOLD UP

In her Feb. 26 letter ("Pot not that bad?"), Cassie Hartzell states that
marijuana is a gateway drug that destroyed her friend's life. She begins
with, "I know someone who started out drinking, then using marijuana."

I'm certain that she was referring to alcohol when she says "drinking," and
if that is true, then she has ignored the fundamental principal of the
gateway theory.

The National Institute on Medicine recognizes that alcohol and tobacco are
the gateway drugs, or at least, the drugs most often used first by young
people. Ms. Hartzell admits trying marijuana, but not moving on to harder
drugs. She, and the vast majority of people like her, are proof that the
gateway theory is scientifically invalid.

While there are people like Ms. Hartzell's friend who aren't capable of
self control where drugs are concerned, he is in the minority. If he
weren't, 70 percent of Americans would be where he is today.

When it comes to alcohol, we don't focus on arresting casual, responsible
drinkers, we focus our efforts on those who have become addicts, just as we
should with other drugs.

We may one day be able to stop the rain from falling, but until then we
should concentrate our resources on fixing the roof. Otherwise, we're
simply all wet.

JIM WHITE Oregon, Ohio