Pubdate: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 Source: Albany Democrat-Herald (OR) Copyright: 2009 Lee Enterprises Contact: http://www.democratherald.com/forms/contact/letters_editor/ Website: http://www.democratherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/7 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n368/a08.html Author: Kevin Taylor POT IS STILL BAD STUFF I appreciated the views of Larry Crompton expressed in his letter regarding the illicit use of marijuana. I wish, though, for a broader discussion. And while I am not a physician, I see no letters from such experts on the matter forthcoming. Hence, I take it upon myself to share what personal research has for me uncovered. First, all arguments in favor of marijuana -- under any pretext whatever -- are grossly untenable. That the American Medical Association has rejected the use of marijuana as a medical treatment is by now well known. But even the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has been unswerving in its affirmation that all documented studies to date "have not provided convincing evidence that marijuana benefits people with MS." The Connecticut Chapter of the American Society of Addiction Medicine likewise affirmed that "there has been to date no critical research performed establishing its efficacy and safety." Moreover, the THC in marijuana can be synthesized artificially, thus negating any excuse for smoking it. Thus, the obstinate pot smoker is left to justify his indulgence on purely hedonistic grounds, claiming it to be "fun." Second, apart from its being void of benefit, it poses myriad risks. "In fact," the British Medical Association reports, "[marijuana] has been linked to greater risk of heart disease, lung cancer, bronchitis and emphysema." Finally, marijuana is addictive. Indeed, "more and more studies are finding that marijuana has addictive properties," and "more than 120,000 people in the US seek treatment for marijuana addiction every year." (http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/ Health_Education/atod/marijuana.htm). Kevin Taylor, Corvallis - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake