MARIJUANA PROHIBITION MAKES LITTLE SENSE

The Editor:

Re: 'Call it the Cheech & Chong Plan' (Times, Dec. 11)

Thanks for the suggestions made in Cale Cowan's column. It is certainly
reasonable to propose that society address the very real problems of
addiction - to whatever substance or passion that may inhibit healthy living.

But as you note, addictions to caffeine, nicotine, or Maple Leaf hockey
(down here, it's Florida Gator football) do not promote our lawmakers to
enact criminal penalties for anyone who buys a pack of cigarettes, a cup of
coffee or a ticket to a hockey game.

Instead, as you astutely note, these policies are reserved for a short list
of socially unpopular habits, most notably the consumption by adults of
marijuana.

If public safety and health were the true priority, tobacco and alcohol
would carry strong criminal sanctions while marijuana possesion would
likely warrant nothing more than a municipal citation.

I notice more than a few Canadian licence plates here in Florida during
that event you all know as winter (wazzat? we ask here). Any chance you
could commute seasonly and contribute such common sense opinions to our own
prohibition-minded editorial pages here?

If so, we'd be glad to provide you with all the Marlboros, Starbucks and
Gator tickets you can handle . . . and with no fear of arrest.

Stephen Heath

Drug Policy Forum of Florida

Clearwater, Fla.