MARIJUANA USE CAUSES MORE THAN DELUSIONS

To the Editor:

Regarding the Aug. 22 letter, ''Why not ban tobacco instead of
marijuana?'' The letter stated that marijuana, which ''only causes
delusions,'' is illegal while tobacco, which causes 10,000 deaths each
year in Tennessee is not.

Marijuana causes more than delusions. Marijuana smokers may be
inhaling five times the tar and carbon monoxide of tobacco. The drug
also has proven effects on perception and memory. The bottom line is
that there is plenty of scientific proof that both drugs are addictive
and harmful. Why has marijuana been outlawed while tobacco remains
legal?

The debate about anti-tobacco legislation involves much more than
scientific proof. It involves the interests of smokers, growers,
manufacturers, marketers, and lobbyists who are in favor of the legal
sale of tobacco. These interests are pitted against smokers struggling
with their addiction and parents who don't want to see the next
generation saddled with a habit that will kill them.

In closing, the questions we should be asking our legislators aren't
about public health and scientific proof but are instead about
pressure from special interest groups that profit from marketing and
selling products that kill people.

If the special interests are louder than the citizens, they win. If
this makes you mad, then take action. Send a message to Washington and
to Nashville.

Tell your legislators that they will lose your vote if they fail to
protect us from things that kill us.

Stuart Bernstein

Murfreesboro