IT'S UP TO INDIVIDUALS TO POLICE THEMSELVES

To the Editor:

I would like to respond to Mr. Stuart Bernstein's letter, ''Marijuana use
causes more than delusions,'' Aug. 24. Mr. Bernstein is quite welcome to his
opinion of anti-tobacco legislation. However, I would like to point out a
few more items that he could add to his list that he feels the government
should protect us from.

Let's start with alcohol. Not only does alcohol addiction destroy families,
pose serious health issues such as mouth, throat and stomach cancer, liver
and kidney failure, heart disease - I could go on but you get the point. It
also endangers everyone on the road when someone gets behind the wheel after
a few drinks. So, according to Mr. Bernstein's viewpoint, let's ban alcohol,
it's simply much too dangerous.

Now, let's talk about air pollution. Have you driven anywhere near downtown
at rush hour lately? Some days you can't even see the road because of the
haze. We know that can't be healthy. So, let's ban automobiles of all types.
We all know that walking is much healthier for us anyway.

My point here is that we don't need ''Big Brother'' telling us how to live
our lives. We, as an educated population, know the dangers. Should we choose
to take that risk, it is our decision as individuals.

I personally don't want anyone telling me what I should or shouldn't do.
Anyone else agree?

Eddie Day