NO DANGER IN POT USE

Editor:

This is in response to Rob Webster's Jan. 15 letter, headlined
Decriminalize pot? Not.

The federal government already condones its use when it gives legal status
to the terminally ill, forcing them to seek illegal sources to get it.

Marijuana has never killed anyone and the average person would have to
smoke 500 joints in one sitting to overdose on THC so, as far as it being
toxic, all of the studies done at American universities and research
facilities show pot toxicity does not exist and, therefore, Jeff Connors is
wrong.

Pot is not hard to find. You wouldn't be adding this to the mix; you'd be
taking away their criminal records so they wouldn't be permanently
stigmatized for the rest of their lives for something as harmless and
stupid as weed.

Amsterdam has decriminalization working for them and their use of marijuana
is less than the United States. Not everybody abuses recreational drugs and
the long-term effects of marijuana are negligible.

The basic point is if we legalize it, we control it and we make money off
it. Now, organized crime and hippie Joe control it and get tax-free cash
while you debate the children. We will never stop smoking =AD where do you
want our money to go?

Teach your children not to smoke but don't use lies. Like alcohol, tell
them "wait till you're older."

Children shouldn't use any drugs (Ritalin included), but parents shouldn't
make unfounded assumptions and pass them off as truths. When your children
find out you're lying about pot, which they will, why would they listen to
you again?

Perhaps people (youth in particular) use, and possibly abuse, drugs
recreationally because daddy has his Viagra, mommy has her valium to calm
her down and little Billy's been choking down happy pills the doctor gave
him since he was five?

I say, don't use any drug unless you've done research. Marijuana: since the
beginning of Canada, not a single fatality but countless criminal records. Why?

Alan Lawrence Ranta

Kamloops