Drugs aren't more deadly than alcohol, tobacco

Thank you for two very interesting letters about drug policy in your Oct. 4
issue. Tracy Ryan added to your article about Judge Gray's recent
appearance where he described the drug war as a failure. She advocated
reform, including the legalization of marijuana.

Sandra Lacar's letter claimed that "500,000 people die needlessly from
drugs, alcohol and tobacco." Unfortunately, the executive director of the
Coalition For a DrugFree Hawaii implies that drugs are more of a problem
than alcohol or tobacco.

Actually, more than 400,000 Americans die each year from tobacco, over
100,000 literally drink themselves to death, and about 10,000 fall victim
to illegal drugs (which are often adulterated or tainted). There is no
record of any deaths from medical complications due to smoking marijuana.

The evidence supports Tracy's conclusion that our constitutional rights to
private property are being violated by people who systematically distort
the dangers of marijuana to continue their government subsidies.

The Rev. Dennis Shields
Captain Cook, Hawaii
(Via the Internet)