WHY IS MARIJUANA CONSIDERED WORSE THAN CIGARETTES?

The Feb. 21 article discussing the acceptance of marijuana use in the
Netherlands should open our minds to the hypocrisy of our laws. For the
most part, people view drugs, including marijuana, as a bane of the
community and use the law to fight it as vehemently as one would fight rape
or murder. Meanwhile, complacency for cigarette smoking is the norm.

What are the evils of marijuana use? According to the surgeon general, some
are impaired immune response, possible adverse effects on the heart and
interference with prenatal development.

What are the evils of cigarette smoking? The list includes all of the
above, plus emphysema, lung cancer, etc. Each year, smoking kills more
people than AIDS, alcohol, drug abuse, car crashes, murders, suicides and
fires, combined.

Marijuana use is forbidden, but where are the laws preventing smoking?
While preaching that illicit drugs account for 85 percent of Kentucky's
crimes and many deaths, one should also rant about the more than $50
billion spent annually to treat tobacco-related health problems and the
five million children living today who will die prematurely because of
smoking. And don't forget that smoking kills more than 400,000 people every
year.

Why is drug use the issue over which we all fret? Because if there were no
other demons to fight, smokers would be forced to deal with the
consequences that they bring on themselves and others. Many will say "mind
your own business," but it's much too late for that. My business and
everyone's is caring for my family and friends. Will I care if they smoke
marijuana? Yes, but it's not marijuana that puts people in the hospital.

Donny Johnson, Owensboro