DON'T STRETCH TRUTH ON MARIJUANA

TO THE EDITOR: Regarding "Hardly Harmless; Campaign Rightly Targets
Marijuana" (editorial, Sept. 21): It's true that 60 percent of teens in
rehab are there because of marijuana use. But they're not there because the
drug is addictive or even because they have a drug problem. They're going
because the police arrest more people for marijuana than any other single
crime and no one but an idiot would knowingly choose prison over rehab.

A person caught with a joint is in no more need of rehab than a minor in
possession is in need of Alcoholics Anonymous. According to the National
Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana is less addictive than coffee, alcohol,
cocaine, heroin or cigarettes. There has never been one marijuana overdose
death. Compare that to the hundreds of thousands of alcohol-related deaths
every year.

Although it's true that marijuana has more tar and carbon monoxide than
tobacco, a cigarette smoker probably smokes around a pack per day. A joint
a month or even a joint per week can't come close to that amount of damage.
I grew up with D.A.R.E. and messages exactly like this. If you stretch the
truth and demonize pot, your kids will recognize it and toss the good
messages out with the bad.

Nathan J. Keltner

Norman