LEGALIZING MARIJUANA WOULD BE FOOLISHNESS

Two Letters to the Editor recently appeared in The Herald supporting
the legalization of marijuana. This addictive, hallucinating, harmful
and illegal drug is promoted throughout the world as "pleasurable."
Maybe it is, but the rest of the facts about pot should be realized.

It is highly addictive. Just scan the web for all of the remedies and
realities of withdrawal. Why do these "users" love it so much? We
already know the results of alcohol and tobacco addiction in our society.

Usage of this drug is rampant enough. Any student in junior or senior
high school in Lethbridge can access this drug through school
associations. They can then purchase the smoking paraphernalia in a
downtown shop.

Three drastic changes will occur in our society if pot usage is
legalized.

As with alcohol, many more will over-consume with the resulting
violence, impaired driving and underage consumption. As with tobacco
and alcohol, all children between the ages of 11 and 17 will have full
access to the product.

Many will become addicts with the resulting life-wrecking that occurs
- - broken homes, heart-broken spouses and children and resulting health
costs including rehabilitation efforts. Obviously, marijuana usage is
the gateway to heavy drug consumption and the resulting heavier
addictions, criminal activity, wrecked lives and legal costs. There
are families in Lethbridge which have been decimated by this lifestyle.

Also, consider the thousands of children whose lives are destroyed by
drinking mothers giving them the gift of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Would
not marijuana smoking during pregnancy provide similar results? Of
course, we can just carry on and do the research later when thousands
of other children not yet born possibly enter life with a similar condition.

Then there is the medical marijuana question. I challenge the medical
profession to explain how there are other drugs available that can
provide the same pain relief as marijuana without the negative
effects. It seems the medical use of pot always spills over into an
excuse for everyday use.

The reality of this public relations exercise promoting everyday use
of pot is that a small group of people are willing to bring into our
society a very dangerous addictive substance just for their temporary
"high" and pleasure.

Is there any thought of the many lives that will be wrecked as this
new addiction becomes rampant in out society? I suggest this is
selfishness at the highest.

Kenneth Oler

Lethbridge