TREAT MARIJUANA AS WE DO ALCOHOL

I think that it is important to note that even the most adamant marijuana
advocates are not calling for complete legalization (Gazette, Oct. 24,
"Tolerance for legal pot higher"). We are merely asking that marijuana
receive the same status as alcohol.

In your article, Dr Raju Hajela claims that "a teenager's brain isn't
mature enough to deal with ... psychoactives." This type of argument is
common and entirely moot, as we are not advocating that marijuana become
accessible to teens.

There is an age limit to alcohol consumption; and there should be an age
limit for marijuana consumption. It is illegal to drink and drive; it
should be illegal to smoke and drive. You can only drink at home or in
designated places; you should only be permitted to smoke at home or in
designated places.

It is a great hypocrisy that alcohol, which has been demonstrated time and
time again to impair functioning and to be hazardous to health, is legal
whereas the consumption of marijuana, which has not been the cause of any
deaths, leads to a criminal record. This hypocrisy must be corrected.

Rick Noble

Montreal