THIS RATIONAL MIND FAILS TO SEE LOGIC OF LEGAL POT

Occasionally an opinion appears which, in its amazingly bizarre reasoning,
calls out for a response.

On the subject of whether to legalize marijuana, I refer to Steven
Epstein's position that "anyone who has a rational mind will see that it's
just wrong not to make money on it" ("Voters set to ponder legal pot,"
Sept. 25). He goes on to say that "marijuana is no more dangerous than
eating fatty foods or drinking soda."

As a health care professional with 20 years' experience treating drug
addiction and alcoholism, I strongly disagree with his position.

I see the consequences of dependency every day as it careens through too
many families ... often leading to the rapid rise in suicides and
escalating crime. And I have never heard of anyone being arrested for being
high behind the wheel after "drinking soda or eating fatty foods."

If making money is the rationale, it might be wise to consider the cost of
treating the ever-surging number of addicts. I have counseled many people
over the years, and 95 percent of them report they began by smoking pot and
moved up the ladder as their tolerance grew.

Jerre Sachs

Sandwich