MARIJUANA PROHIBITION DOES NOT MAKE SENSE

Editor: I'm wondering why a law that allows people to drink alcohol but not
smoke marijuana is still in effect. Once you reach the ripe old age of 19,
you can have access to all the alcohol you want, There are liquor stores,
beer and wine stores, pubs and clubs and restaurants to provide you with
your choice of booze.

In the United States, you can buy it while you grocery shop, get your
gas and even fill your prescriptions or buy your babies diapers and
food. You can even brew your own beer and wine, either at home or in
specialty shops.

When it comes to those of us who prefer to have a few tokes of pot
instead, it is a whole different matter. It is against the law for us
to grow it, buy it, possess it and smoke it. Even those who use
marijuana for its medicinal benefits have to get a doctor's order to
be able to possess and use it.

Everybody knows that alcohol causes far more problems in society than
marijuana does. People who smoke pot do not become violent and abusive
if they have a few too many tokes, but many people do when they have
had a few too many drinks.

Does anybody know much money the abuse of alcohol costs the health
system each year? How many marriages and relationships fall apart
because of alcohol abuse? How many people are killed each year because
of drunk drivers? How many people die because their liver and their
bodies just can't take any more booze?

How many people do I know that have been adversely affected by
alcohol? Oh yeah, I don't have enough fingers and toes to count that
many. How many do I know that have been adversely affected by
marijuana? Zero.

Sharon Parker,
Langley