TAX MARIJUANA AND CLOSE THE GATEWAY

As a non-smoker, I'm all for taxing other people's vices, so I have
absolutely no sympathy for Terry Burnett (July 20 letter, "Yet
another tax increase awaits Texas smokers").

Speaking of taxes, why isn't marijuana taxed? If marijuana were
regulated, taxed and sold in licensed business establishments like
tobacco products are, countless millions if not billions of dollars
would flow into our tax coffers.

Marijuana would no longer be sold by criminals - criminals who often
offer free samples of other, much more dangerous drugs like meth to
their marijuana customers.

When I was a marijuana user more than 15 years ago, I was frequently
offered free samples of other drugs like meth and cocaine. (Yet I've
never been offered a free sample of whiskey or vodka when buying beer or wine.)

Fortunately, I turned down all offers of free samples of other drugs.
Unfortunately, many others do not - thus the gateway effect.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.