I read the McClatchy article "Public mellows on legalization of pot," April 5, and, as I understand it, pot is rolled in the shape of a cigarette, fired up and smoked.
May I ask a very simple question? What about the billions of dollars spent over the past 25 years on public service advertisements to encourage the American people to stop killing themselves inhaling cigarette smoke? The government, American Medical Association, American Cancer Society, Asthma Society, etc. have had much success curbing the use of tobacco in America. Many states, through taxes, have raised the price of a pack of cigarettes to an astounding $10.
Despite all the effort, we still have many medical respiratory concerns. Seemingly every other commercial on television is either for some pill or breathing device for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma or other respiratory ailments. Smokers who choose to smoke in public are treated like the lepers of Molokai, yet, many of our young folks seem to want to reopen the door to allow folks to once again begin smoking, only this time around it's pot?
I am 83 years old and this great society I am living in today is literally off-the-wall repeating all the sins of our past. Will we ever learn? Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
Joseph J. Henzel South Glens Falls