Letter: Legal marijuana a recipe for danger

Saturday, Oct. 21, 2006 | 8:04 a.m.

Maybe the folks who want to legalize marijuana think the rest of us are stupid. I, for one, am not. They seek to liken the use of marijuana to alcohol and tobacco use. Nothing could be further from the truth than that.

If a person has one or two beers or alcoholic drinks, the chances are they do not become impaired in any way. Have a cigarette or a cigar, no likelihood of intoxication. Light up a marijuana "joint" and the very first inhalation gets you high. Not only does the person who lights up the joint get high, but so does anyone in the immediate area. That is called, by anyone who knows facts, a "contact high." Without giving any consent whatsoever, a person within mere feet of a marijuana smoker gets intoxicated.

If I were out in public and was exposed to marijuana smoke, without any hesitation, I'd get the name of the smoker, the name of the establishment allowing that smoker to light up that "joint," and sue both of them for endangering my life! After all, I might have to drive a car, perform a delicate task or be on my best behavior, but I could not as I'd be intoxicated.

Careful thought must be given to any legalization of marijuana and all the facts must be considered.

The backers of this initiative to allow marijuana usage to be legalized have but one thought. That thought is to get "high" no matter what the effects may be on others.

Lee S. Gliddon Jr., North Las Vegas