To the editor:

I recently spoke with a friend who just returned from California.

One of the things she noticed was they do not have the problem with prescription drugs that we do. She also said that medical marijuana was very easy to get.

When I asked if she thought that maybe the reason painkillers are not abused there as much is because of the ease of access to medical marijuana, she said, “I think so.”

As medical marijuana becomes more predominant, will that help to reduce prescription painkiller abuse? What is worse, opiate addiction, or marijuana use?

Being a former marijuana user — for medical purposes — and a person suffering from chronic pain, I’ve tried almost every drug known. Although marijuana does have its downfalls, it is certainly better than an opiate addiction.

Many people still seem to have a problem with those who smoke pot, but would they be better off popping pills? I don’t think so, do you?

Daniel E. Gagne

Brunswick