To the Editor:

David Brooks (“Weed: Been There. Done That,” column, Jan. 3) argues gently that marijuana should remain illegal.

However, his arguments — that it’s addictive, impairs cognitive processes such as driving and speaking, facilitates stupid and irresponsible behavior, leads to wasted lives — apply more to alcohol than to marijuana, and only with excessive use of either drug.

More generally, Mr. Brooks suggests a hierarchy of pleasures, with marijuana being quite low on the scale, versus the higher satisfactions of the arts, learning, being in nature, falling in love and so on. This misconstrues marijuana use as an end in itself, on a par with the arts, rather than as a stimulant that can immeasurably enhance many of these higher pleasures.

He also claims that legalization encourages marijuana use, and thinks that government should aim higher than that. But the Declaration of Independence classifies liberty and the pursuit of happiness as fundamental rights.