POTHEAD ADVICE NOT NEEDED

Re "A tokin' gesture" (May 8): If there was ever a better argument against
legalized pot, I don't know what it would be. There are still many of us
who believe this is a silly idea, and what better ammunition could we have
than the words of pothead Jeff Paden. Rather than speak of the virtues of
cannabis for the victims of, say, glaucoma or chemotherapy nausea, he
chooses to promote the recreational and irresponsible use of this stuff.
Mr. Paden is pictured puffing on a huge spliff and quoted as saying "I've
been smoking this for probably close to an hour" and "I can't walk
anymore." What I, and others of a similar view don't want to see in Canada
is more guys who "can't walk anymore," and the related social ills. What we
need is more guys who can still walk, think, work, and make this a better
country to live in, even for those who seem to feel their recreation trumps
our right to a responsible and decent place to live.

Kal Helppi

Hamilton

(We're with you, but how much trouble can a guy cause if he's too stoned to
move?)