Thank you for publishing the informative and useful article on efforts to
unlock "the secrets of pot's effect on humans" (Contra Costa Times, Dec. 22
1996) originally published in the Los Angeles Times. If I understand the
findings correctly, it shows that using pot makes you feel good but has
some unhealthy side effects.

Regular use appears to be nearly as unhealthy as using tobacco and liquor
but is not nearly as addictive.

Furthermore, it is not possible to cause death by overdosing.

Now I understand why it is necessary to arrest people who grow and-or
sell marijuana and put them in jail for decades.

However, I am a little confused by the money, honor and respect we
accord manufactures and sellers of tobacco and liquor.

Is this a logical inconsistency or an illogical consistency?

Maybe Gov. Pete Wilson or Attorney General Dan Lungren would explain it all
to us confused, bamboozled voters who were fooled into voting for
Proposition 215.

Gerald M. Sutliff
Walnut Creek, CA