SCARY POTHEAD NEIGHBOR AN EXAMPLE OF MARIJUANA'S DAMAGING RESULTS

Several letters recently have heralded the praise of marijuana use as
less harmful than alcohol; therefore, they said, it is time to
legalize it. These writers describe neighbors who are "productive,
responsible, peace-loving people" ("Marijuana is part of American
life; it's safer and healthier than booze," Jay Linden, April 19). I
beg to differ.

I have a pot-smoking neighbor. He is not productive, responsible or
peace-loving. He is scary. More than once he has threatened my
husband, sons and guests with bodily harm for "offenses" such as
blocking the road to his property when trying to get a truck out of a
ditch or riding a four-wheeler along the public highway.

Further, my daughter is an aide in our public school. Every day she
works with students who suffer from the effects of the drugs,
including marijuana, that were used by their mothers during pregnancy.
She also works with students who are active users of marijuana. These
students have difficulty processing information, drawing logical
conclusions, writing a coherent sentence, making thoughtful and
careful decisions and interacting with their peers and teachers.

Pot is not a harmless drug. Multiple medical studies have proven that
repeatedly. There is a direct correlation between the use of marijuana
and the abuse of other drugs, including alcohol. A person's choices
regarding pot are not a logical reason for legalizing its use.

Betty Bengtson

Glennallen