Pot politics

Having read House District 4 candidate Tim Baldwin’s numerous letters to the editor in various newspapers, I’ve noticed that every letter deals only with the supposed injustice of not allowing unfettered use of marijuana.

As a Republican, I’m concerned about his seemingly one-issue platform. Republicans are generally considered to be the more fiscally and socially conservative party, but Baldwin seems to be banking his entire candidacy on this one issue, and with a very liberal stance.

Since Tim Baldwin is so adamantly extolling the virtues of smoking pot, I have a few questions: Tim, can I assume you are a pot smoker, since this issue is so near and dear to your heart? If so, do you use it for “medicinal” reasons or do you use it recreationally?

If you are elected, do you intend to go about your legislative duties while under the influence? If not, how do you intend to avoid being high while working the long hours required of the job?

Do you intend to accomplish anything else besides the legalization of drug use? What other drugs do you think should be legalized?

Do you think that taxpayers should have to foot the bill for the rehabilitation of drug users? As a House representative, would you vote to increase funding (presumably by raising taxes) for drug rehabilitation?

I encourage the voters to carefully consider the candidates for their stances on various issues, not just their party affiliations. In the race for House District 4, I don’t find Tim Baldwin to have a moral compass or common sense. This makes his Republican status irrelevant, and I hope it makes him unelectable.

Doug Adams

Whitefish