MARIJUANA EDITORIAL WAS ILLOGICAL

TO THE EDITOR:

I was disappointed with the July 31 editorial, `Legalizing Marijuana is a
Dopey Idea.' The only argument presented against legalization is this: even
though marijuana may be less harmful than alcohol, it would be `adding
another vice to the list of legally-tolerated drugs we'd be better off
without.'

This statement is nothing more than ill-logic and hypocrisy. It is
disgusting to think that government can righteously discriminate against
some drugs users (marijuana and other drug users) while not only
tolerating, but condoning other drug users (alcohol and tobacco users).

If we allow alcohol and tobacco use, which cause 80,000 and 400,000 deaths
respectively, every year, what justification do we have for imprisoning
people for using marijuana which hasn't killed anyone in 5,000 years? How
can we justify the billions of dollars spent to fight this drug which is,
at worst, only as bad as an already legal drug?? How can we possibly
justify that people who use this drug are better off with jail and/or a
permanent criminal record???

Whether pot is legal or not means nothing to people who want to smoke it.
Laws like these that are based on deranged morals, always have, and always
will continue to be ignored. The Canadian Medical Association Journal and
the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Canada have both suggested
decriminalizing possession. Another report is coming out soon. Let's quit
ignoring these prominent organization like we have been doing for 30 years,
and actually make a change for the better.

Alan Reiner
Arlington, VA