MARIJUANA, ALCOHOL REALLY NO DIFFERENT

The Chronicle's recent opinion piece about medicinal marijuana [July
25] compelled me to write. I feel the media is cooking up pretend
outrage about the issue because it's election season.

I think there is a double standard being applied that is unfair.
First, when I voted for the law in 2004, I knew this would be the
result. You'd have to be naive to pretend otherwise. Why did I vote
in favor of medical marijuana? Not for any medical reason. I knew it
was the only way under current law that innocent people would find some safety.

I do not believe that marijuana is an offense worthy of our justice
system. There has been a stir because 20-year-olds get a card for
chronic pain. First, are we so quick to judge others, without
knowledge of the situation, based solely on age? I know a couple of
people in their 40s who have gotten a card simply because they could.

Then there is the issue of post-traumatic stress disorder. With
recent changes at the VA, we will see a lot of soldiers acquiring
cards for PTSD, which is arguably an ambiguous diagnosis. Will people
be so quick to point the finger at these card-carrying veterans in
the "20-something" age bracket?

The fear of marijuana and recent nail-biting from our public
officials is ridiculous. I believe that marijuana should be subject
to the same laws as alcohol. There is really no difference. You
shouldn't be inebriated and driving, or even stumbling down the
sidewalk. Public intoxication is not OK, but what you do in the
privacy of your own home is your business.

Mark Jackson

Bozeman