DON'T CARICATURE 'PARTY-TIME POTHEADS'

Editor -- I object to the crude caricature of advocates for the
decriminalization of marijuana in your editorial, "A remedy for Prop. 215
headaches" (July 22).

Referring to us as "party-time potheads," this regrettable smear besmirches
the many fine citizens who sincerely and philosophically oppose the
government's most colossal and expensive failure: its war on drugs.

There are, of course, potheads among us. There are also alkie (alcoholics),
tobacco freaks (cigarette smokers) and zombies (insomniacs). It's easy to
mischaracterize a whole group of people with terms that have sinister
overtones. It's much more difficult to use reasoned arguments to defend
prohibition.

STANLEY F. KERN

Daly City