Pubdate: Fri, 05 May 2000 Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Copyright: 2000, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: #250, 4990-92 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6B 3A1 Canada Fax: (780) 468-0139 Website: http://www.canoe.ca/EdmontonSun/ Forum: http://www.canoe.ca/Chat/home.html Author: Dean Troyer Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n591/a01.html Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor; headline by newshawk MARIJUANA SHOULD BE A PERSONAL MATTER RE: "NO to pot ticketing," May 3 by Michael Jenkinson. First, let me say that editorials are about opinions and the transfer of information. With this in mind, let me say I completely agree with his statement that society is generally confused about the pot issue. I believe this is due to misinformation. For instance, you take the stance that marijuana is a gateway drug. This is what governments were saying a dozen years ago. However, it has been proven and accepted that cigarettes are the gateway drug. You see, a pot smoker may have four or five puffs on a joint once a month to once a day. A cigarette smoker on the other hand will have about 15 puffs per cigarette, about 25 times a day. That translates as a whopping 375 hits per day. This steady consumption of an addictive substance is what makes cigarettes the gateway drug. To clarify my stance on marijuana, I'm not saying, "Let's all get high." I would no sooner say that than, "Hey, let's all get drunk." I'm saying marijuana, along with other life choices, should be a personal matter. Dean Troyer (That's one view of the matter.) - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D