ALL OTHER RECREATIONAL DRUGS WORSE THAN POT

Re. [U.S. Drug Policy] Director [John P.] Walters' opinion piece on
marijuana [May 5 Opinion page].

This epitomized the hypocrisy of the Bush administration. Every other
recreational drug, including tobacco and alcohol, is more dangerous than
marijuana. Yet instead of pursuing a truly dangerous societal problem,
crack or ecstasy, for instance, they go after the relatively harmless drug
marijuana presumably because it's a far easier target.

He mentions 17 deaths over a 10-year period. Has he noted the death toll
among cocaine users and dealers? He cites marijuana-related traffic
accidents; alcohol is the No. 2 cause of death in the United States.

His thinking is no different than the Republican Party condemning former
President Clinton's marijuana use (a misdemeanor) at any given chance, yet
completely ignoring the reports of President Bush's cocaine use (a felony).

If this is an example of bringing integrity to the White House, then Bush
gets an F.

Mark R. Leaman

Myrtle Beach