This letter is a responsible citizen's addendum to Joseph B. Filko's
Aug. 16 column. The title was "Illegal drug use leads to surrender of
social liberties."

Does this mean that legal drug use does not?

Filko asserts that marijuana "adds nothing to civilized society or to
human productivity." What about alcohol (see numerous articles from
CDT on the alcohol-induced arts festival riot)?

The author's argument is a moral one, that abusing intoxicating or
hallucinogenic substances is tantamount to Iying to oneself by
distorting reality. Should we also make Iying to ourselves illegal?

The article ignores the issue of hemp. To those who support laws
compelling others to do what we think is best for them: Must we also
ban hemp as an alternative to deforestation and dependence on
petroleum-based, oil-producing countries?

Joel Carlson
State College