question of legalising marijuana and of the dangers of marijuana when compared to other legal drugs, especially alcohol. That indicates to us that there is community concern and Bermuda should be thinking about marijuana usage and what would be best for Bermuda and Bermudians in the future.

Before anyone misunderstands us, let us say firmly that we are simply attempting to set out here the situation as it applies in Bermuda. We do this because we think it is somethimg Bermuda should be thinking about very seriously. We are not taking a stand on marijuana but we think that Bermuda should decide exactly what it wants and that we should all think about the consequence which apply to some people, especially young people.

We have access to the identity of letter writers and we must say that significant support for legalising marijuana is coming from substantial people in this community, notably Dr. Clark Godwin who is a former PLP parliamentary candidate and who may be a candidate in this year's General Election. No matter what people might think of Dr. Godwin's views, he at least has the courage of his convictions and signs his name to his letters.

The question of marijuana use is both difficult and complex. A significant portion of Bermuda's population seems to use the drug regularly. Indeed a group of people consider it a part of their religion. There is little likelihood that drugs are simply going to go away. Many people see marijuana, not hard drugs but marijuana, as more acceptable and less damaging than alcohol and cannot agree that it is in any way a danger. Those people will go on using despite the penalties, both legal and social, which are involved.

A major social problem arises, especially in Bermuda, because a conviction for marijuana usage or sale results in a ban on travel to the United States. That is a very severe double punishment. Young Americans convicted of minor drug offences would face only one punishment but young Bermudians face two.

The strong stand by the United States, which is designed to protect America from drug pushers and drug abusers, effectively, with some exceptions, chains Bermudians to The Rock. This prevents recreational travel and often disrupts their education in the United States or stops them from seeking admission to US schools. That inevitably leads to great frustration and many people question whether or not it is just. The answer, of course, is not to offend, but when a substance is in such wide usage and so acceptable in some sections of Bermuda there are people who see no harm in usage.

There are conflicting medical reports on the dangers or lack of danger in using marijuana. We do not know if any of the reports are correct, especially for concerted long term usage. It is clear that there is some limited benefit to marijuana usage in some medical cases. However it is very doubtful that constant use of any drug is healthy. It does seem clear that marijuana usage does not lead to using hard drugs any more than social drinking of alcohol leads to alcoholism. On the other hand, there is a real danger that if the supply of marijuana is rigidly curtailed, it can encourage people to use far more addictive hard drugs which are easier to smuggle and might be readily available.

The problem in arguing against marijuana is that so many people firmly believe that society sanctions one drug, alcohol, but criminalises and deprives them of their drug of choice, marijuana. In a democracy large groups of people who are determined to follow a chosen path usually get their way. That was certainly true when the United States first enacted and then repealed the prohibition of alcohol.

Bermudians read and see on television the fact that penalties for marijuana are becoming more and more relaxed in the United Stares and in other areas such as the recent incident surrounding a Canadian Gold Medal snowboarder at the Nagano Winter Olympics. Despite the complications of that case, people will see it as an International Olympic Committee acceptance of marijuana.

As we said at the beginning, this is a vexed and difficult question. No-one wants to see Bermudians criminalised unnecessarily yet few want to legalise another drug alongside troublesome alcohol. As a Country we should be paying attention.