I take issue with Tom Bowler's letter ("Marijuana doesn't hurt smokers; law the cause," Feb. 4) that marijuana didn't ruin Allen Tingley's friends' lives ("Losing friends, career paths to marijuana proves to be sobering reality," Feb. 3), but rather the law did. How ridiculous does that sound? My friend from high school would be fine if it weren't for the law.

I mean, what's driving under the influence and ramming a police cruiser, after all?

It should be a slap on the wrist, but curse those lawmakers for making guidelines that we are to live within or otherwise be reprimanded for not following.

Why shouldn't we be allowed to run reckless in our communities and do as we please without consequence? Possession or selling of marijuana is illegal, regardless of the current ongoing debate to legalize it.

The laws of our society are meant to dissuade citizens from partaking in activities deemed detrimental to the rest of the population or to themselves. Bowler, I find it hard to believe that your friend or Tingley's friends were not aware of the consequences of marijuana possession or use.

The law didn't ruin the life of your friend, Bowler -- thinking he could break the law and get away with it did.