CONCERN OVER POT CLOUDS OTHER ISSUES

I am writing about the letters posted in the Dec. 8 issue regarding
the column Deputy Chief William Brooks III wrote.

Seven letters in total from around the country and only one backed the
deputy chief. Wow. I wish there was this much passion about higher
taxes, lowering government spending, the hypocrisy in government, and
so on.

The fact that these people believe that decriminalizing marijuana and
that even one person questioned why it was illegal in the first place
is mind boggling. Where does it end?

Robert Sharpe's, from Common Sense for Drug Policy, statements in his
letter that "Marijuana is arguably safer than alcohol" and "The plant
has never been shown to cause an overdose death" are astounding. Using
this argument I guess we can finally put to rest gun control because
there has never been proof that a gun ever killed anyone either, until
someone picked it up.

I agree with the deputy chief, the people were "hoodwinked." Under the
old law people convicted with possession of marijuana could not get a
gun permit. Thanks to the voters of Massachusetts, these people now
not only can get permits but may also possess an ounce of marijuana,
as well.

Police currently have two tools to determine if a person is
intoxicated with alcohol while driving, the Breathalyzer and the field
sobriety test. Will the voters now allow them to perform blood or
urine tests at traffic stops and accident scenes to determine if
someone is driving under the influence of marijuana? A hallucinogenic
that will clearly affect the way people drive and act; I for one don't
want them driving or carrying a gun.

Lastly, there is not any common sense approach for use of drugs other
than as properly prescribed.

Fred LaCorte Jr.

Quincy