TOXIC QUESTION?

To the editor:

A proper response to all the arguments for legalization of marijuana and
marketing it with "enforceable age restrictions" set forth in Robert
Sharpe's letter of May 20 would take a lot more space than would be printed
in this section. He appears to be saying that marijuana, though harmful if
abused as would any other drug be, is less harmful than legalized alcohol.
The real harm being the effects of its prohibition.

Let me stress what he claims: it is less harmful than beverage alcohol. Let
me reply to that, referring to what was said in the matter at a meeting of
a corrections conference in the early '60s when the legalization was so
anticipated that a TV news program was showing the contemplated packaging
of it with logos and brand names.

When the state toxicologist presented his lecture then asked for questions,
the issue of marijuana was raised. The toxicologist's answer was vehement.
"We legalized alcohol and see what happened and we now want to legalize
marijuana too!?" This was a toxicologist who said this.

Al Mitchell

Ellettsville