ME? AN ABUSER? HARDLY

Re "Violence and marijuana" (Letters, by Cynthia Stevenson, Dec. 30):

So I "look older beyond my years ... probably due to my substance
abuse"? How could you possibly know my age? Or what I do or don't abuse?

To be honest-and I'm all about honesty-I've had my run-ins with
various synthetic narcotics, but thanks to less than a joint a day
(that's hardly abusive) I have been able to say no. So much for the
gateway theory-for many people marijuana is actually an exit drug.

I admit that I have picked up a few wrinkles in the past year ...
probably the result of all the frustration I run into in my efforts
to defend your right to choose what medicine you put in your body.
(By the way, I'm 55 years old, and my wife thinks I'm the handsomest
man in the world.)

As for my blanket statement about the tendency for cannabis users to
be nonviolent, I was referring to the patients who come into my
store, not the gun-toting criminals you hang out with.

If you have a point to make on this issue, then make it. This kind of
personal attack serves no purpose, except to reveal your ignorance
and prejudice.

Robert Galia

Chico