AND OF MARIJUANA (IV)

Re: Pot Dangers (III), letter, Oct. 4; Marijuana Has No Place In
Society, letter, Sept. 30; A Misguided Sense Of Justice, letter, Sept. 28.

Some of the U.S. hysteria about marijuana seems to be rubbing off on
Canadians. I don't doubt Dr. Henry T. Chuang's sincerity in opposing
its use, but I think the problems he refers to would pale in
comparison to those caused by alcohol in his city.

I am a middle-aged male business owner who experimented with pot then
left it behind with my youth. I never thought about it again. But
almost a decade ago, I had an acute back injury that left me,
temporarily, unable to sleep, with no appetite and in a lot of pain. I
did not want to use the Oxycodone I had been prescribed. A friend of a
friend brought in some marijuana and suggested I try it. I was amazed.
The pain subsided and I ate a huge meal. Then I went to bed and had
the first good sleep I'd had in weeks.

I haven't smoked it since, but that episode proved to me that there is
both a need and place for marijuana in our society and it's beyond
time that it should be legalized and regulated. Demonizing and further
criminalizing it is unjust and counterproductive.

Robert Chapman

Oakville, Ont.