'WEEDS'

Forgivable

To the Editor:
I read Dave Itzkoff's article about the new Showtime series "Weeds"
["Mommy, What's That in Your Purse?," last Sunday] with some interest, but
the characterization of the main character's decision to sell marijuana as
"unforgivable" was puzzling. Given that she is described as having
sufficient scruples not to sell to kids, there is no indication of anything
unforgivable in her actions, unless one believes that marijuana itself is
horribly dangerous. In fact, research has consistently found marijuana to
be far less toxic and addictive than alcohol or tobacco.

Bruce Mirken

San Francisco

The writer is a spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project, a nonprofit
group opposed to the prohibition of marijuana.