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MARIJUANA & BOOZE

EDITOR:

Reading the June 1 "Marijuana Dangers" letter reawakened my frustration with the virtual denigration of smoking and the incessant demonizing of marijuana by the government agencies, while glaringly ignoring the indisputably dangerous effects of alcohol consumption.  As a retired clinical psychologist who dealt with alcoholics and other drug substance abusers for decades, it has become increasingly obvious that both medically and behaviorally, the continued, condoned use of alcohol is by far the most devastating of all legal drugs.

Booze is a deadly toxin to humans that destroys many vital organs, resulting in a shortened life span, painful deaths, severe seizures, and marked distortions in thinking and perceiving.  Alcohol is also extremely addictive, and clearly causes a high violence potential in many heavy drinkers as well as their denial of faulty control over driving.  As a consequence, death caused by drunk drivers and domestic violence killings by drunks remain incredibly high.  In contrast, there's no evidence of violence or driving fatalities associated with smoking cigarettes or marijuana.

Again, as an ordinary person who neither uses cigarettes, marijuana, nor excessive booze, I have a simple, pragmatic question.  Would you rather leave your family at a social party teeming with drunks, or marijuana and cigarette smokers?

Larry Wonderling, Ph.D.

Dewey