NOT A GATEWAY

I'm writing about the article "Cannabis use leads to hard drugs _
Study" (March 15).

In order to properly evaluate your nation's drug policies you need to
compare them with those of other nations with substantially different
drug policies.

In the Czech Republic, citizens can legally use, possess, grow or
purchase small quantities of cannabis.

In the United States many otherwise law-abiding citizens are locked in
prison cages for possessing, growing or selling various amounts of
cannabis _ often for decades, or even life in prison without the
possibility of release.

The Czech's overall drug arrest rate is 1 per 100,000 population. The
US rate is 585 per 100,000 population. The Czech robbery rate is 2 per
100,000 population. The US rate is 145.9 per 100,000 population.

Could it be that when people can legally obtain cannabis at an
affordable price they tend not to use or desire any other recreational
drugs?

Could it be that cannabis legalisation actually creates a roadblock to
hard drug use _ not a gateway?

KIRK MUSE

Mesa, Arizona

U. S. A.