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LEGALIZING MARIJUANA COULD HELP ADDICTS

If Americans honestly want to lower heroin addiction rates as last week's story suggests ["Heroin: It's here, and there are consequences"], they should end marijuana prohibition.  An important reason to end marijuana prohibition that doesn't get mentioned is because a ban increases hard drug addiction rates by putting citizens who choose to use the relatively safe plant into contact with people who often also sell hard drugs.

Furthermore, the government claims heroin is no worse than marijuana - and that methamphetamine and cocaine are less harmful drugs - by insisting marijuana is a schedule I substance ( alongside heroin ), while methamphetamine and cocaine are only schedule II substances.

How many citizens tried marijuana and realized it is not nearly as dangerous as claimed and believed other substances must not be either - - only to find themselves addicted to hard drugs? Can the message from marijuana prohibitionists be any worse for vulnerable citizens?

STAN WHITE

Dillon, Colo.