READER RESPONDS TO MARIJUANA DEBATE

To the editor:

I'm writing about John M. Conrod's not so thoughtful letter: "Stop the
Decriminalization of Marijuana (May 30, 2003). Since at least 50 per cent
of all Canadian and U. S. high school students will use marijuana before
they graduate, the "rite of passage" is already with us.

The forbidden fruit appeal creates the "rite of passage." In
theNetherlands, where marijuana is available to adults without criminal
sanctions,and the Dutch youth use marijuana and other drugs at
substantially lower rates than either Canadian or U. S. youths do. Please
see the web site:http://www.drugwarfacts.org/thenethe.htm

If you want to keep marijuana as a criminalized substance because of its
potential danger, please be honest and criminalize other potentially
dangerous substances like doughnuts, cheeseburgers and a long list of other
potentially dangerous foods.

While you're at it shouldn't you criminalize potentially dangerous
activities such as hockey, skiing and skating?

For everybody's own good, of course.

Kirk Muse, Mesa, AZ