RECREATIONAL USE

Editor -- Your otherwise excellent editorial (``Federal Study Says Pot
Has Medical Value,'' March 18) was marred by this outrageous
statement: ``For all its reputed benefits, marijuana is a potent
intoxicant and should not be used for recreation.''

We may agree to disagree about whether marijuana is a ``potent''
intoxicant. Compared to most of the drugs I have tried over the years
(and I am not the most daring soul who ever crossed the high frontier,
so my experience is pretty limited), marijuana is quite mild; that is
one of its charms. I have suffered significantly greater impairment
and after effects from alcohol, for example.

But more importantly, what the hell business is it of yours what I do
for recreation? As long as I'm not driving a car while under the
influence, nor otherwise risking harm to anyone else in any way, what
I do in the privacy of my own mind and body should not be anybody's
business but my own.

DAVID GANS
Oakland