As usual, Dalton Camp is only partially right.

His July 12 Opinion page column, time to rethink the war on pot,
contains a lot of useful information about the shameful, racist
origins of drug prohibition and the relative safety of marijuana, but
neglects to tell us that the harm done to users who ingest a
particular substance is totally irrelevant to whether or not the
government should be granted the authority to prohibit it.

Alcohol is harmful, but legal. Tobacco is harmful, but legal. Fatty
foods are harmful, but legal. Coffee is harmful, but legal. Rat poison
is harmful, but legal.

So where is the logic for prohibiting any drug? Suicide is harmful,
but legal.

If tobacco users can purchase their drug of choice relatively cheaply
at the corner store, why shouldn't the currently persecuted users of
heroin and cocaine be granted that same right?

ALAN RANDELL
Victoria, B.C.