RESPONSE TO CANNABIS VS ALCOHOL

In response to letter writer Bruce Symington, (July 24) who observed that
when cannabis use goes up, alcohol use goes down, you asked: "Are you saying
pot smokers don't drink?" Of course, some cannabis users also drink, though
they tend to drink less. If we put fresh fruit on the dessert menu, some
diners will order cake with fruit, others will order fruit instead of cake,
while others, who would have otherwise skipped dessert, will order fruit
alone. However, the net effect would be less cake and calories consumed and
healthier diners. Studies in jurisdictions that have decriminalized cannabis
found alcohol-related emergency room episodes, violence and traffic
accidents have gone down.

Matthew M. Elrod

(You're giving us the munchies.)