LEGALIZATION, REGULATION WOULD END THE 'GATEWAY EFFECT'

I'm writing about Clifford Schaffer's thoughtful letter: "Government,
private industry should regulate, tax marijuana" in Your View on June 28.

I'd like to add that I have never seen heroin, cocaine, LSD or
methamphetamine. However, I was offered free samples of these
dangerous drugs on several occasions by my marijuana suppliers when I
was a user of marijuana, which is more than 15 years ago. (Yet, I've
never been offered a free sample of whiskey or vodka when buying beer or wine.)

Like the vast majority of marijuana users, I was only interested in
marijuana and no other illegal drugs.

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.