LTE: Marijuana vs. Alcohol

I could not help but notice the irony. The Journal Sentinel article, “Authors note Wisconsin’s heritage, suds and all ‘Bottoms Up’ rundown,” in the Cue section on Feb. 10 gave a two-page color spread to a book about taverns in Wisconsin, essentially glorifying and sanctifying an activity that kills thousands across the nation every year.

It’s my understanding there has never been a single death directly attributed to ingesting marijuana on the entire planet, yet we have spent billions of dollars eradicating this useful plant, educating against it, prosecuting those who grow and use it and incarcerating those who break our stringent anti-marijuana laws.

If people want to drink alcohol or smoke marijuana, that is their business, in my opinion. But glorifying a killer and vilifying a harmless plant – again, it seems ironic.

R. Bowen 
Milwaukee

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/letters15-p98p56h-191300161.html