NEVER WAS AN ADDICT

Re: "Tewksbury fought marijuana addiction," Feb. 15.
Olympic gold medal winner Mark Tewksbury has done a disservice to cannabis
users by labeling himself an addict. Addictions are stigmatizing terms that
are culturally conditioned and reflect more what myths a culture is willing
to believe than any supernatural force of allurement attributed to
inanimate chemicals.

Addict is a term to stigmatize people who use the wrong social drugs.

The primary motivation in taking drugs is to enjoy ourselves, not to
destroy ourselves. There is such a thing as responsible drug use and it is
the rule, not the exception. Drug-taking is a vice, not a crime or a
medical disorder.

Mark Tewksbury has changed his drug-taking lifestyle because he chose to
change it. Let him be an even bigger inspiration than he already is for
having the courage of his convictions to come out of the closet one more
time as a former cannabis user.

Chris Buors

Winnipeg, Man.