FOGGY OVER POT ANALOGY

In Glenn Reist's Jan. 10 letter, he evidently completely missed Andrew
Telegdi's point about the decriminalization of the use of cannabis.
Telegdi's comment that "pot is no more harmful than legal vices such as
alcohol, tobacco or junk food" can essentially be followed by one of two
"if/then" statements:

If the use of alcohol, tobacco and junk food are legal, then so, too,
should be the use of cannabis.

If the use of cannabis is illegal, then so, too, should be the use of
alcohol, tobacco and junk food.

I think all would agree that the United States learned that the prohibition
of alcohol was a complete failure.

While the recent legislation prohibiting smoking in public places has
largely been accepted by society, no one has mentioned the criminalization
of tobacco products. Such a notion would never be accepted by the public.

I need not even suggest the possible criminalization of junk food; people
are still watching their waists grow as they languish in line at the local
Krispy Kreme doughnut shop.

Therefore, it stands to reason that if cannabis use is no more harmful than
alcohol, tobacco and junk food and society is against the criminalization
of the aforementioned products, then the use of cannabis products should
also be decriminalized.

In my opinion, this is precisely what Telegdi was saying. I fail to see
anything ironic in the statement.

Peter Thomas

Kitchener