EDITORIAL WAS MISGUIDED, OFFENSIVE

Dear Editor:

The opinion you offered in the paper Feb. 25 was completely misguided
and offensive.

The main thing I don't understand is you continue to criticize people
who use marijuana, but it is "normal" for people to take numerous and
expensive prescription drugs, which can have serious side effects.

Marijuana has been proven to be an effective way to relieve pain,
nausea, anxiety, sleeplessness and a variety of other benefits without
such side effects. It is far safer than alcohol or cigarettes, both of
which are legal.

How many times has someone been arrested for abusing their spouse
while stoned or causing severe automobile accidents? And yet marijuana
continues to be demonized, while having a couple of drinks is okay.

Additionally, most conservatives - a term I dislike - such as yourself
believe less government intrusion into our lives is better, but in
your mind it's okay for the government to tell us what we can do with
our own bodies in the privacy of our homes.

You state that when voters approved the use of marijuana, none of this
pot production was foreseen. In saying that, are you proposing that
you knew the minds of the voters who approved it?

How do you think people were to obtain their marijuana if there were
no grow operations and no dispensaries? That's like getting a drug
prescription from your doctor and then not being able to find a pharmacy.

I'd rather have people get their marijuana from a licensed and
regulated dispensary than on the black market, which promotes violence
in Mexico and doesn't pay taxes.

Also, I'm sure you want a balanced government budget, so let's start
by stopping the insane prosecution and incarceration of pot users and
smokers.

Linda Gibas,

Salida