MARIJUANA'S SAFETY TEMPERED WITH MATURITY

Re: "Marijuana shouldn't be legalized," by Gayle M. Tippit, Sunday Letters.

As one who has been a San Jose, Calif., police officer, narcotics
detective, DEA task force officer, state and federal court-recognized
expert in the psychological and physiological effects of drugs and
narcotics and who has written programs for and treated hundreds in
drug treatment programs, I am shocked by Tippit's statements.

It cannot be backed up by evidence, such as police reports, or by
scientific studies. I hope this officer has never testified in court
regarding this issue.

My experience in the field parallels that of the Drug Enforcement
Administration's Administrative Law Judge Francis Young, who ruled
that marijuana is one of the safest therapeutically active substances
known to man.

Russ Jones, New Braunfels