THE MOST DANGEROUS DRUG IN OUR SOCIETY IS NOT MARIJUANA

Listen up, folks, if you want a "drug" to use as a scapegoat for the
downfall of America's youth try looking at the most widely abused substance
in the nation, ALCOHOL. All of the residents of this fair city have seen
too many tragedies occur as a direct result of alcohol consumption (Kelly
Morgan [RIP], assault rifles, stabbings, DUI after DUI. Need I go on?)

Yet in the 15 years that I have lived in Bozeman, I have yet to read about
someone getting high then causing an accident that affects the whole
community (or any accident for that matter!). Marijuana does not lead to
violence, sexual assault, or dangerous drivers on our roads.

I feel that Mr. Sharpe made a very good point regarding ending the "war on
drugs" especially the war on casual marijuana users. The government
currently is spending more than $9 billion each year on a battle it is
never going to win. In fact, since the drug war began, the percentage of
marijuana users has gone up steadily each year.

Why not change angles of attack and use that money for education about
drugs and alcohol, or to fund research on marijuana and its effects, or for
establishing a working rehabilitation program for drug offenders instead of
taking them from their families and cramming them into our prisons.

Basically it seems as though some people around the Bozeman area are
walking around with their heads where the sun don't shine. Marijuana users
are portrayed as sinister perverts, willing to lie, cheat, steal and kill
to "feed their habit." Face it, pot has become more mainstream, normal,
sane. Nice people smoke pot too.

So watch out, Bozeman, that friend or neighbor or child or parent that you
know so well just may be a "dangerous stoner!" HA.

Luke Cusack

Bozeman