In response to the letter in The Times on March 10 (“Young people are best hope to end ‘targeting’ by Big Tobacco”), I must say with all due respect that the anti-tobacco campaign is the very definition of hypocrisy.

Alcohol kills people when abused, yet no one in their right mind wants to do away with drinking. The same people who want to condemn smoking cigarettes usually support legalization of marijuana, even though it is twice as lethal to the lungs and destroys brain cells, which tobacco does not. What nonsense! Our Savior’s words about “straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel” (Matthew 23:24) come to mind.

Tobacco has been legal and available in this country since the beginning. Native Americans used it long before the white man ever came here. It is a natural plant the earth produces and should be legal and available to all who choose to use it.

The nanny state mentality that would remove choice from the American people must be resisted at all cost. As for me, I will continue to use tobacco as all my ancestors have since they first came to Virginia in the 17th century.

the Rev. Stacy Wade
Cleveland