OUR MARIJUANA LAWS ARE THE REAL TRAVESTY

The Baltimore Sun made a number of valid points in its editorial about
Michael Phelps ("Snark attack," Feb. 6). But there is more that needs
to be said.

No one would bat an eyelash if Mr. Phelps had been photographed
hoisting a Budweiser. Yet the data show unmistakably that alcohol is
more addictive than marijuana, vastly more toxic and orders of
magnitude more likely to make its users aggressive or violent.

Given the laws, Mr. Phelps took a big risk. But it's our laws that are
truly stupid and irresponsible when they punish someone for choosing
to unwind with a substance that is safer than beer.

It's even dumber, in this era of fiscal crisis, for our government to
forgo the billions of dollars in tax revenues that could be generated
if marijuana were legally regulated in the ways that alcohol and
tobacco are.

Bruce Mirken

Washington