Pubdate: Fri, 18 Aug 2006
Source: Morning Sentinel (Waterville, ME)
Copyright: 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc
Contact: 
http://centralmaine.mainetoday.com/readerservices/lettertotheeditor.html
Website: http://www.onlinesentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1474
Author: Karl Williams

BUREAUCRATIC IDIOTS ARE TRAMPLING OUR RIGHTS

I must write in response to the letters of Jenny Morales on Aug. 7 
and Casey O'Connor on Aug. 5. Both wrote about smoking, one about 
cigarettes and one about marijuana. But nobody ever talks about alcohol.

Perfectly legal to buy and sell, but the second-hand effects of 
alcohol are many times worse than smoking either pot or cigarettes. 
Families are broken apart, careers are destroyed, and people are 
killed by those who drink and drive. And what about the physical and 
emotional abuse to those around the drinker? I don't remember ever 
reading about someone being killed by a cigarette-smoking driver, or 
abused by a crazed Marlboro man, a career destroyed or a divorce over 
a box of Camels.

I don't think I've ever read about any of these things happening to 
someone who just smokes pot. Sure, mix it with alcohol or other drugs 
and anything can happen. I know you'll say pot leads to other drugs 
because you have been brainwashed to believe that. Being a baby 
boomer, I smoked my share of pot when I was young. It did not lead to 
other drugs. Now I smoke cigarettes. I have a full-time job, pay my 
bills each month and I am a responsible tax-paying citizen. My point 
is, this is America, and our rights are being trampled by 
bureaucratic idiots. If you don't like my smoking, then stay away, 
just like I stay away from drunks.

Karl Williams

Waterville
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