MARIJUANA DEBATE

Letter writer Sean Peterson was right on target in his letter, "Legalize
marijuana" (Jan. 26). It probably won't happen for a long time.

Not because marijuana is dangerous. It is not. In the history of marijuana
use, there is yet to be a documented death from its use. Not because
marijuana use leads to addiction to other drugs.

It is the marijuana prohibition policy that causes the so-called "gateway
effect." Not marijuana itself.Marijuana will probably remain a banned
substance because of the people, industries and institutions with a vested
financial interest in perpetuating the status quo.

The people with drug-war-created jobs will do anything and everything in
their power to make sure our now-prohibited herbs and drugs remain so.

The prohibition of marijuana stands between many drug warriors becoming
ex-drug warriors working at quickie marts.

Kirk Muse, Vancouver, Wash.