Pubdate: Wed, 13 Nov 2002 Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA) Copyright: 2002 Hearst Communications Inc. Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388 Author: John Engelman MEDICAL POT DEFENDED (2 OF 3) Editor -- In his Nov. 11 column, Joseph Perkins wrote, "There is no hard scientific evidence proving the efficacy of medical marijuana." Nor is there hard scientific evidence that marijuana use leads to long-term health problems. It is clearly less dangerous than cigarettes or alcohol. Marijuana has always been a cultural issue. It is illegal because most of the voters dislike the kind of people who enjoy using it. JOHN ENGELMAN Walnut Creek - --- MAP posted-by: Beth