GAMBLING WORSE THAN POT

Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan sees marijuana grow-ops as one of
the biggest problems in our communities (Gazette, Nov. 3, ''Potheads
called stupid'').

I, on the other hand, see video lottery terminals in bars,
restaurants, billiard halls and bowling alleys as well as ''slots'' at
racetracks across the country as the most serious threat to public
safety. I don't know a single case of a person committing suicide
because they were unable to stop smoking pot, but many have done so
because of state-operated gambling.

McLellan points out marijuana continues to be illegal. But so is
gambling. The federal government has made exemptions in the Criminal
Code allowing provinces to operate lotteries, but gambling per se is
still illegal.

McLellan says these grow operations are related to the murders on our
streets, yet the letters I have sent her regarding the dangers of
gambling do not merit the courtesy of a response. Suicides and
homicides are reaching epidemic proportions across Canada as addicts
scramble to find more money to gamble.

Sol Boxenbaum

Montreal