Pubdate: Fri, 04 Feb 2011 Source: Daily Courier (Prescott, AZ) Copyright: 2011 Prescott Newspapers, Inc. Contact: http://www.dcourier.com/Formlayout.asp?formcall=userform&form=1 Website: http://www.dcourier.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4036 Author: Benjamin Souler MEDICAL MARIJUANA A DRAG FOR PRESCOTT, PV EDITOR: A poorly informed electorate has passed Proposition 203. Now, an equally ignorant group of city officials is busily providing for the growth and distribution of a narcotic substance called medical marijuana. No official standards for marijuana's purity, potency or dosage forms have ever existed. It is the only botanical medicine predominately administered by inhalation of its combustion products (smoking). Among conclusions by expert testimony before a U.S. Congressional Committee, I list three verbatim: 1. THC (Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the major psychoactive substance in Cannabis, tends to accumulate in the brain, sex glands and other fatty tissues of the body in much the same manner DDT is stored. 2. There is evidence that marijuana may cause irreversible damage to the brain, including actual brain atrophy, when used daily for several years. 3. Chronic cannabis use results in deterioration of mental functioning, pathological forms of thinking resembling paranoia, a progressive and chronic passivity and lack of motivation. What a noble enterprise our city council has embarked upon. Benjamin Souler Prescott - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom