SECOND-HAND POT SMOKE IS NO JOKE

There has been much debate and open criticism of Canada's proposed
medicinal marijuana legislation. Your article about Health Canada's
guide for marijuana smokers (Gazette, July 21, "Pot guide has a whiff
of reefer madness") gave detailed information about the proper usage
of "weed" and mentioned how long-term risks associated with using this
drug are not yet known. I find it appalling potential health risks to
nonusers were not mentioned.

I am 21 and frequent bars and clubs where the air is blue from tobacco
smoke. However, last Sunday's Summer Sanitarium rock concert at Parc
Jean-Drapeau left me overwhelmed by marijuana smoke and suffering from
a severe migraine, nausea and breathing difficulties.

In a city where pesticides have been outlawed for the sake of some
people's respiratory difficulties, perhaps public marijuana use and
its effects should be subjected to the same scrutiny.

Although it might be true medicinal marijuana users are left with a
feeling of relief after smoking, those of us who choose not to light
up will be forced to suffer the consequences.

Joseph Bryan Jette

St. Laurent