DRUG USERS WON'T WORK ENOUGH TO GET HIGH ON LIFE

Louis Silverstein's Aug. 12 letter is one of those really misinformed
letters to the editor that makes drug enforcement even more difficult than
it should be. Marijuana is addictive, not physiologically but in an even
more subtle and damaging way, psychologically. Clearly, Mr. Silverstein's
main interest is selling his book not in impartially evaluating the enormous
damage being done by the drug user as well as the drug abuser.

There was a New York Times article from London in the same issue of The Maui
News which said it all: A user said he doesn't see pot as a drug at all.
Then he goes on to say, "I still have my balance. Although sometimes days go
by -- and before you know it a week's gone by, and you haven't done anything
you're supposed to do, like get a job." I would bet every penny I've got
that that person would adamantly insist that he is a "user" and not an
"abuser." Silverstein says, "responsible, respectful, and disciplined use of
marijuana affords one the insight . . ." Does the person noted above sound
to you like he is getting any insight?

Silverstein suggests that we throw open the doors to unlimited drug use and
that will solve the problem. Nonsense. Getting high on life, not
artificially with some drug, is the essence of life. Some people, notably
drug users, are not willing to put out the energy to find this solution and
choose to "get stoned" and want law enforcement to leave them alone.

Although there is a high percentage of people in prison due to drugs,
contrary to popular opinion a significant number are there because of
something the did when they were enjoying that "recreational high" like
beating up their spouse, stealing in a store, driving under the influence,
etc. So Silverstein says, don't worry about it, people will act responsibly
if drugs are readily available.

Drugs would just become more readily available to all ages. Is that what we
want to leave as the legacy from our generation -- two or three or 10 times
as many stoned-out pot heads and drug users?

Personally, I hope not.

Tony Fisher

Kihei