A DATE WITH MARY JANE

Dear Editor,

In the interests of setting "a good example for tomorrow's leaders" (Re: A
Date With Mary Jane, published Jan. 27), I'll state for the record that I
have little faith that this letter will be printed, and none that the
editors at TEC will concede the following facts:

Drug prohibition, just like alcohol prohibition early last century, has led
to drastic increases in youth access to illicit contraband and per capita
homicide rates. Furthermore, marijuana laws have been associated with
increased demand for cannabis and much more dangerous substances like
opiates and inhalants.

Why do people risk their very freedom to smoke marijuana? Because it
effectively ameliorates pain, nausea and stress with far less deleterious
side effects than "approved" alternatives.

Why do people legally smoke cigarettes, drink beer or use pain killers?
Because Congress prefers to wage war against Americans over pot. Meanwhile,
they ignore the annual deaths of 1.1 million Americans caused by
manufacturers of defective and deadly drugs that would otherwise be forced
to compete on an open market with marijuana.

War on drugs is counterproductive at best, and is likely illegal, violating
several antitrust and Constitutional laws.

Any questions?

Jose Melendez

DeLand, FL