Since R.G. Young ("Get the facts on drugs," March 12) seems interested in "facts" presented at congressional hearings, here are a few more:

-- "Most of the marijuana smokers in the United States are Negroes, Mexicans, and entertainers" (Anslinger, circa 1936).

-- "The combination of jazz and marijuana caused white women to have sex with Negroes" (Anslinger, circa 1936, cited by Dr. James Munich).

-- "(Marijuana is) a scourge which undermines its victims and degrades them mentally, morally, and physically" (Anslinger and Tompkins, 1953).

Though these "facts" seem absurd today, they were once used as a rationale for our country's marijuana prohibition, and should clearly illustrate to the reader that you should not always believe what you hear or read, especially when it pertains to our nation's drug policies.

So as not to take up the entire Opinions page with this letter, I will not challenge every one of the "facts" presented by Young. But I would like to point out a few examples of what I mean.

First of all, how much are "moderate" amounts, and how much is "massive" damage?

The study says that cannabis smoke is "far more damaging" to the lungs than tobacco smoke. Perhaps this is true on an equal amount comparison. But does someone who smokes a joint or two a week do as much damage to her/his lungs as someone who smokes 30 to 40 "cancer-ettes" a day (70,000 puffs per year)? hardly!

Finally, I'm sure that all of the doctors, lawyers, professionals and straight-A students in this country who enjoy recreational marijuana use would be surprised to find out that they suffer from "amotivational syndrome."

But the question is not whether marijuana is harmful to the user or not, but who should make the decision if (people) should smoke or not --the individual or the government?

Do we want laws based on such "facts," or do we want each citizen to have the freedom to control his/her own mind? Why protect people from themselves when it pertains to marijuana, but not alcohol, tobacco, obesity, sky-diving, etc?

Finally, do we want a nation made up of prisoners and prison guards? (This is no exaggeration, considering that there are an estimated 40 million recreational users, more than the total population of our 22 smallest states combined).