ALCOHOL, NOT POT, GATEWAY DRUG

This is in response to Cassie Hartzell's letter "Pot not that bad?"
of Feb. 26. Ms. Hartzell begins her letter describing marijuana as a
"gateway" drug, but she then proceeds to state "Guess how it all
started? Marijuana. For one, I know someone who started out drinking,
then using marijuana."

Does anyone else see the obvious flaw in this statement? Why do
people continually disregard alcohol as a drug? Although I'm sure she
did not intend to do so, her very example illustrates alcohol, not
marijuana, as the gateway.

Personally, I'm not a big advocate of the "gateway" drug concept, but
if you're going to count hills, start with the mountains.

DAVE MINER
Walkersville