PUT SAFETY FIRST IF MARIJUANA IS DECRIMINALIZED

Editor:

I have nothing against pot smokers, just irresponsible pot smokers and
substance abusers. Marijuana, according to all current scientific data is
less physically addictive and harmful than tobacco and alcohol. But that
doesn't mean it is perfectly safe.

Some people can drive fairly safely while drunk; the same can be said for
those who are high. Most people cannot, however, and even hardened
alcoholics and chronic pot smokers, if they indulge too much, can be
hazardous on the road.

The side affects of marijuana smoking can include hunger, paranoia,
giddiness, euphoria, tiredness, lowered attention span, loss of time
perception and, in some rare individuals, mild perceptual hallucinations.

Thousands of fatal and severe motor vehicle accidents a year are currently
caused by alcohol and tiredness. I believe if marijuana becomes legalized
or decriminalized, many more people will be doing it and more irresponsible
overindulgers could be driving, knowing if caught, all they face is a fine.

Instead of letting irresponsible people ruin what has the potential of
doing some good for society and the sick, I have a proposal that could be
more beneficial to all: Certain bars could carry marijuana for sale.

This marijuana would be sold to the bars by the government and would be of
a standard average potency. When people go to these bars, where it is
perfectly legal, they must hand over their drivers' licences and only get
it back three or four hours after last call or when escorted to a taxi by
the bouncers.

The only other places it should be legal are clinics where those who need
it can have it administered in proper intervals by trained individuals and
have a few of the same trained individuals daily go around town giving one
day's worth of doses to homes of those in need.

Steve Cherry

Lethbridge