MARIJUANA NOT SUCH A 'BENIGN' PLANT

Editor, The News:

With reference to Christopher Foulds' column on the editorial page of
the Nov. 18 Abbotsford News, I am one of thousands of Canadians who
oppose the praise of marijuana, especially when it is praised as being
a "benign plant."

True, a plant in itself can be benign, but the use thereof can have
deleterious results.

Having lived for a time on the delta area of the River Amazon's mouth
in Brazil, I saw firsthand how the use of a benign plant like sugar
cane (the basis of a sugar) can ruin lives when the juice is fermented
in the form of rum.

A drink now and then, as harmless at it might have seemed to someone,
inevitably led to addiction, fights, destroyed families and even death.

We support all who face the reality of the use of pot, facing the
truth of the results of its fumes.

Statistics abound on the adverse medical and psychological effects of
its use.

It is widely recognized as the gateway for the use of stronger drugs.
Many who begin with marijuana move on to other more harmful drugs with
their history of destroying lives and morals.

It would seem that the tobacco plant is quite benign, but look at the
results of its use through the years.

The same can be said of barley -- good for food, benign as can be, but
misused to make alcohol. The results are anything but innocent; ask
someone whose loved one was killed by a drunk driver.

We hope people will consider this matter with a view of the greatest
good for the largest number of people, without an "out" for
individuals who would argue for the so-called human-rights issue and
thus praise for a basically harmful plant because of the way it is
used.

W. T. Laskowski

Abbotsford