SUBSIDIZING CRIMINALS

Re "Drug prohibition doesn't work" (Point of View, Aug. 28): Jeremy
Loome said "there are dozens of studies showing that marijuana is
physically and mentally bad for you." Actually, there are possibly
hundreds of studies showing the benefits of using marijuana far
outweigh the dangers. This well-meaning editorial ends with the
question: "What are these guys smoking?" Given that prohibition costs
us about $2 billion a year, deprives us of an additional $3 billion
in annual tax revenue, subsidizes criminals, increases associated
crime, endangers the public (especially kids), and suppresses civil
rights and liberties, a better question would be: "Just which side of
the law are these guys really on, anyway?"

Russell Barth

Ottawa

(Man, you guys are harshing our mellow)