Inappropriate parents

Regarding “High tea has Marin abuzz” ( July 23): The story about cannabis tea parties was unnerving, not for the cannabis per se, but their irresponsibly matter-of-fact rationale for a mother to rely on “an arsenal of standbys to help take the edge off ” including cannabis, alcohol, Xanax, Valium or sleeping pills as “mother’s little helpers [that] are commonly seen as socially acceptable crutches.” They aren’t. I don’t know mothers (or fathers) worth their salt who rely on drugs to deal with stress.

The good parents I know consider using drugs as a “crutch” to be a red flag, absolutely inappropriate for people in charge of children. They also realize their children know much more about their antics than they thought. It would be easy to critique these women pictured here as privileged and delusional, thinking they are outwitting their children with their behavior.

And so I will, but with the hope they recognize they are using drugs for all the wrong reasons and knock it off before their children end up tearfully discussing the destructive selfishness of their mothers in therapy (if they’re lucky enough). Peter Albert, San Francisco

Bad bill on pot marketing

Regarding “Big Weed bill would hit small firms, too” ( July 24): As someone who was a teenager during the 1970s, I can vividly remember laughing with friends at Cheech and Chong “stoner comedies” like “Up in Smoke” and wearing T-shirts featuring the logo of Bambú, a rolling paper company. We might have enjoyed smoking a joint now and then too, but none of us grew up to be unproductive potheads.

Thus, it troubles me to read this article. Does our current Legislature have nothing better to do than craft legislation barring the sale of merchandise — including T-shirts — relating to licensed cannabis businesses? SB162 won’t “protect children from potentially harmful marketing practices.” Rather, it is children’s parents who are the best communicators (and protectors) when it comes to discussing drugs and their related consequences.

Terrence Williams, Berkeley

Steps to improve BART safety

Now that robberies, beatings and other crimes are increasing on BART trains and at stations, there must be immediate steps taken to protect the public.

First, put BART cops and, if necessary, add paid off-duty officers from other police departments in every BART station and train throughout the system. BART must immediately release security camera footage of any crimes committed on BART to help aid in the identification and arrest of the suspects involved.

Build adequate fencing around all station ticket gates to stop fare evasion and flash mobs from bum-rushing a station in order to rob passengers. BART must realize people can and will use alternatives to BART if conditions don’t immediately improve. Nick Yale, Oakland

Great ride-hailing services

Regarding “S.F. seeks order for Uber, Lyft ride data” ( July 22): It is about to kill the goose that laid the golden egg. At our age, we are no longer able to navigate the stairs and escalators of BART.

With Uber and Lyft, we are now able to visit our two daughters and their families in San Francisco without driving our own car and trying to find a parking space. The drivers have been uniformly polite and have very interesting backgrounds, with many coming from other countries. Anthony Ellis, San Mateo