THE REAL QUESTION

I'm writing about M.K. and S.E. Brantseg's thoughtful March 23 guest
column, "Toking up or taking pills to alleviate the pain."

Should adult citizens be allowed to use marijuana for pain relief? It
seems to me that this is the wrong question. The question should be:
Should marijuana remain completely unregulated, untaxed and
controlled by criminals?

Because marijuana is now illegal, it is sold only by criminals
(criminals who often sell other, much more dangerous drugs like
cocaine and methamphetamine). And they often offer free samples of
the more dangerous drugs to their marijuana customers, thus creating
the so-called "gateway effect." In a regulated market, this would not happen.

Do the readers know of anyone who has been offered a free bottle of
whisky, rum or vodka when legally buying beer or wine? I don't either.

If we regulate, control and tax the sale and production of marijuana,
we close the gateway to hard drugs.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.