WE'VE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE

There has been much said and written about the recent passing of the
bill to allow the use of marijuana under limited conditions and by
prescription of doctors.

We have apparently forgotten what happened after 1933 with the
legalization of alcohol. Alcohol is now the greatest contributor of
trouble in the country. The conditions that brought about the
legalizing of alcohol are now being repeated with marijuana.

What has so far been left out is two conditions brought about by using
marijuana, being that its use destroys the user's senses of both speed
and depth perception. A car driver under the influence cannot tell the
difference between 20 mph and 40. He also does not know whether his
car is 6 inches from a curb, tree or another car or person, instead of
6 feet.

Depth perception, for anyone who does not know, is simply not knowing
where you or your car is. Ask any pilot if he can pass a flight
physical if his depth perception is off.

How long will it be before a large number of people will suddenly
decide that only marijuana will stop their assortment of pains. They
will shop around from doctor to doctor until they find one who will
prescribe for them. Today we see the drug industry appealing directly
to the public in their ads for new drugs. "Ask your doctor if
so-and-so is right for you."

Unfortunately many are succeeding in getting whatever they ask for.
Can marijuana be very far behind? We just do not need another
substance on the market that impairs the user's senses.

The argument goes, "Legalize it because the public wants it and tax
the daylights out of it and everyone will benefit." The same argument
went for alcohol. Legalizing marijuana will not prevent sick people
from becoming criminals, it will only make sick people out of many
healthy ones.

Elbert E. Stallcop, Hamilton