CARTOON CARRIES PAINFUL, TRUTHFUL MESSAGE

Letter writer Heath Coffield (Public Forum, Feb. 7) seems disturbed by
a cartoon which carries painful yet truthful messages.

Coffield is startled to consider that marijuana is less dangerous than
tobacco. Here's the expanded numbers from the past 15 years: Tobacco --
over six million deaths. Marijuana -- zero deaths, as there is no
lethal dosage possible for humans.

Does this mean marijuana use is safe? No. Marijuana, like any
substance, is capable of being used or abused. However, the overall
health risks when compared to tobacco are, quite frankly, benign.
Thus, the greatest risk for any marijuana user in the United States
today is being arrested, prosecuted and placed into a jail cage for
long periods at taxpayers' expense. Here in Florida, 21 grams (about a
pack of cigarettes) results in a felony conviction and a permanent
loss of many rights, including voting.

Kudos to Garry Trudeau and his Doonesbury strip and for his exercise
of free speech. While disturbing to a minority of readers, we can hope
that if we were in a theater and the fact was that a fire started,
people like Trudeau would immediately jump up and scream, "Fire!"
Freedom has nothing to fear from the truth.

STEPHEN HEATH

Clearwater, Fla.