IMPAIRED ONLY WHEN HIGH

THE EDITOR:

I see that Deborah Joyce has responded to the outpouring of criticism
of her article Dec. 30th citing that memory and motivation are
impaired through the use of marijuana.

The sources (Jan. 13) are very well-documented and confirm that when
smoking marijuana you will become intoxicated and certain functions
will become affected or impaired.

However, Ms Joyce's article was presented in a manner suggesting that
this is a constant effect, even after you become sober or quit smoking
marijuana, and that is reason enough to keep marijuana illegal.

The references only support the fact that while "high" the effects in
the test subjects are prevalent.

This is also true for alcohol, prescription pain killers,
anti-depressants and numerous other drugs.

Ms Joyce's argument for not legalizing marijuana because of its
harmful effects are fear-mongering at its most base level.

Alcohol and tobacco cause more deaths, cost taxpayers more money and
ruin more lives (young and old) in one year than marijuana has caused
in a century.

Let us be fair then and criminalize alcohol and tobacco, for their
harm to society and the general population is extremely
well-documented and there is no arguing that.

Milo Brucks, Parksville