To the editor: The Salem News reported on Oct. 15 that Rep. Ted Speliotis is leaning toward support of a bill to legalize and tax marijuana. He further said, "I don't buy into, 'It's an entry-level drug.'" I would like to know if Speliotis has spoken to heartbroken parents whose narcotic-addicted sons or daughters were introduced to the drug world by first using marijuana.

My personal experience in conducting group and individual counseling with drug addicts and adult probationers convicted of drug-related felonies, and, as a secondary-school psychologist, talking with high school students, is that for many of them marijuana was their initial drug experience. I have served on governor-appointed task forces in Texas and Georgia to formulate drug prevention and treatment policies.

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