MARIJUANA LETTER ON THE MARK

I'm writing about Jon Holmes' thoughtful letter: "Marijuana Not A
Gateway Drug" (11-04-04). I agree that marijuana itself is not a
gateway drug, however the policy of marijuana criminalization probably
produces a gateway to hard drugs.

Because marijuana is illegal, it is sold only by criminals. Criminals
who may sell other, much more dangerous drugs, and who may offer free
samples to their marijuana customers.

Marijuana is relatively benign, however marijuana criminalization is
very dangerous. For the sake of our children, we need to regulate and
control the sale and production of marijuana so that marijuana is only
sold by licensed business establishments to adults only.

Only legal products can be regulated, controlled and taxed by our
government.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.