DON'T STIGMATIZE MARIJUANA USERS BY MAKING THEM LOOK DOPEY

Re: "Boomers, toking has gone digital," Teviah Moro, column, Jan. 15

Can we please stop using the word "dope" when it comes to cannabis?
The word's origins have nothing to do with being "dopey," but the
word implies that people who smoke it are dumb when they are using
it, or dumb for even trying.

This is scientifically and historically inaccurate, and it serves to
stigmatize marijuana users further -- especially federally licensed
users like my wife and I. This makes it difficult for us to get work,
secure housing, or have people take us seriously. Funny how videos of
people smoking pot raises eyebrows, but some 300-pound moron paints
himself blue and white and gets royally tanked on beer in front of
everyone's kids at the NHL game -- that is just Canadian tradition.
There is a word for that.

Russell Barth, Nepean