A blurrier line between pot and alcohol?

I agree with Patrick Brown in his Feb. 20 issue cover story that neither the Church nor society are ready for the coming marijuana boom. Commercial interests who stand to gain from the boom sell the myth that marijuana is a safer alternative to alcohol. It is not, and we will witness the consequences. 

But I take issue with Brown’s attempt to draw a sharp line between alcohol and marijuana. I have seen the devastating effect that addiction and abuse of both alcohol and marijuana have on individuals and their families. The public health and safety costs of alcohol abuse far outweigh those of marijuana abuse (this may change as pot use becomes more prevalent).

Both are mind-altering substances. Both can be used recreationally in social settings, in moderate doses, in a way that can enhance enjoyment and relaxation, without losing one’s “grasp on reality and rationality.” Both present the risk of crossing the threshold between relaxation and impairment.

But I fully agree that the Church, as Brown said, can “speak to the ennui young people feel” and help all people make decisions about alcohol, marijuana, and much else. 

— Paul C. Fox, M.D., Latrobe, Pennsylvania