MARIJUANA AMENDMENT

Re: "Amendment 44: The Marijuana Initiative," Oct. 1 pro-con Perspective
articles.

Mason Tvert's pro-Amendment 44 column trumped Thomas Gorman's scare
tactics. Tvert is right that the opposition can't explain why there
should be a double-standard between pot and alcohol. Gorman's response
that there are more alcohol users proves nothing. I'd suggest a deeper
reason for the double-standard: It's about who is using a particular
substance.

Gorman makes it pretty clear he has a low opinion of marijuana users,
that these people are destroying "Colorado's future leaders." That's
prejudice in that it stereotypes marijuana users as unmotivated
losers. And when he argues Amendment 44 will "attract drug users as a
new tourist base or residents," that's bigotry.

PAUL DOUGAN

Broomfield