BOOZE, TOBACCO WORSE THAN POT

In response to William Austin's letter (They treat cars better than bodies,
Oct. 1), I generally tend to agree with his sentiments that pot use for
recreation is unnecessary, and people really should be able to get on
without it.

However, he states that, although people should be able to do without
cigarettes and alcohol, since they are already so ingrained in our society,
it will take a long time to get rid of them, so we should live with them
for now and not introduce any more harmful substances. In theory, this
sounds good. In practice, that is not a valid excuse. There is something
called equality. It is about being fair. If people want to smoke tobacco,
and use alcohol, then to be fair to those who want to use marijuana, they
should be allowed to, since it will cause them less detriment than either
of the others.

Conversely, we could completely criminalize both tobacco and alcohol, which
would be an equally fair and just solution, but we all know how unrealistic
that idea is. Anyone heard about the protests to have alcohol and/or
tobacco made illegal lately? No. That is because there aren't any.

The problem with pot being illicit is the hypocrisy. We need to take one
stance or the other on the issue, and stick by it; not flounder in the
middle while we try to make up our minds (and while pot smokers receive
criminal records).

Canadians deserve a resolution to this. It is only fair.

James Young

Toronto