CANNABIS OFFERS A CHOICE

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.)