To the editor:

As the November election nears, the issue of legalizing recreational marijuana in Rhode Island is being neglected by our citizens, overshadowed by the individual political races of state and local politicians. Those who are working fervently to legalize recreational marijuana have not lost their focus and are pushing the issue on a daily basis.

As a retired veteran who has fought for the freedom/right for these individuals to promote yet another drug into our society, I am constantly amazed by the lack of common sense in their arguments. If recreational marijuana is legalized in our state will it strengthen or weaken our country, state, community and families?

At the present time our entire country, and particularly New England, is combating the widespread pestilence of heroin, cocaine and prescribed opiates addiction. This growing addiction of hundreds of thousands of our citizens to these insidious drugs is destroying men, women and children at an alarming rate.

While this addiction is occurring there are those who sincerely profess to support the legalization of yet another drug, marijuana. Really? Does this pass the common sense test?

And then there is the issue of carcinogens found in marijuana. At the same time our government is raising taxes on tobacco, ostensibly to reduce public consumption, some individuals are promoting the legalization of recreational marijuana, a drug that contains multiple times more carcinogens that tobacco.

This leads me to the conclusion that the issue of recreational marijuana is merely about money. Additional taxes for the state and federal government and huge profits for those who will grow and provide this drug to the population.

In conclusion, I question the need to raise taxes and enrich the drug dealers just for the money. Has our country and state sunk to the level that we must raise taxes from drugs and gambling just to make ends meet?

Robert Bledsoe

348 Windstone Drive

Portsmouth