ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, June 25, 1990                   TAG: 9006260035
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BE CONSISTENT ABOUT HARMFUL DRUGS

A RECENT "48 Hours" program told how drug teams located and destroyed pot and arrested the growers and users. Why do they make such a big deal over something that is no worse than the more addictive and destructive drug, alcohol?

The only difference is that alcohol is "socially acceptable" and pot is not. Everything I've heard or read implies that alcohol destroys more lives and families than pot ever has.

Let's quit straining at gnats and swallowing camels. Either legalize and control pot, or make the possession and use of alcohol carry the same criminal penalties as pot. If a person wants to destroy his own mind and body in his own home, what difference does it make if he chooses to do it with alcohol or pot?

I'm not advocating either one. I just think America should be consistent about harmful drugs. PATRICIA D. DEEL CLOVERDALE 


 by CNB