REASONABLE REGULATION

Should marijuana be prohibited by law in any quantity regardless of
medical benefits, on moral grounds, religious or otherwise?

I would answer in the negative.

I cannot imagine any ground on which marijuana use or possession
could reasonably be said to be so morally bad, in and of itself, that
it should be absolutely prohibited by law.

Reasonable regulation is another matter, but the Bible itself
sanctions the moderate use of alcohol, the immoderate use of which
can kill people and ruin lives. What's the difference? The key in
both cases should be medical benefit, if any, balanced against potential harm.

Unrestricted use of marijuana would be too dangerous in view of the
harm which all mind-altering drugs can cause with immoderate use.
(Alcohol, a deadly substance itself, is in a separate legal category
for historical reasons.)

That leaves the practical questions for the medical profession, not
moral leaders. Priests, ministers and rabbis, as such, really have
little to contribute to the discussion.

RICHARD W. METZ

Sanibel