WHERE ARE OUR PRIORITIES?

Congratulations on "Time to clear the smoke" (July 5). Marijuana really is
less dangerous than alcohol, and its prohibition really is based on myths
and racist propaganda from the 1920s -- not on any sound moral or scientific
basis, as argued by prohibitionists.

Canada and the U.S. have problems with substance abuse, and they need to be
addressed -- although prohibition has proven particularly useless in
reducing abuse and addiction. Meanwhile, we spend just a small fraction of
our "anti-drug" budget on treatment. Where are our priorities here?

Keith Sanders

(Marijuana is the gateway to other drug use.)