OUR SOCIETY HAS STARTED TO CONDONE DRUG ABUSE

Referring to stories in the Dec. 10 Record, Pot Bill Expected To Debut In
2003 and Judge Dismisses Impaired Charge; Not Convinced Marijuana Affected
Teenager's Ability To Drive Vehicle, I wish to publicly proffer an early
suggestion for a New Year's resolution.

Why don't those of us who drink socially quit completely and start smoking
dope. Look at the benefits: no criminal record, drive stoned out of your
head with impunity, and grow your own for personal use -- can't do that
with beer.

Watch out Molson's, "I am, duh, Canadian . . . dude."

And teenagers can help out, too. If Ma and Pa (the old fogies) go out for
dinner, they can make sure they and a few buddies follow behind and ride
shotgun -- a couple glasses of wine, a Ride program, and, poof, the parents
are criminals.

But don't worry. A few joints, a little ecstasy, hey throw in some crack,
and teens and their pals can be "wasted" -- the breathalyser can't detect
that. Just don't run into Dad's car or the cruiser.

Then again, the "court" will probably blame it on black ice or something.

And one more thing, if our casual marijuana use happens to lead to harder
drugs there's always, as the Dec. 10 headline on another story said, Safe
Injection Sites Needed For Addicts, Committee Says.

By the way, where is the public outcry -- or is it only me?

Daryl Rotondo

Kitchener