Pubdate: Tue, 06 Aug 2013
Source: Kamloops This Week (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Kamloops This Week
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1271
Author: Frank G. Sterle, Jr.

ON POT DEBATE, ASK WHO IS DOING THE RESEARCH

Editor:

I must admit that the plethora of research findings these days 
regarding pot consumption's effect on human health that "reveal" a 
benign or, contrarily, insidious nature to cannabis consumption make 
me instinctually wonder: Who commissioned the research?

As cynical as it may sound, I'm one who believes quite often knowing 
the interests of the entity that has commissioned the research often 
reveals much about the research findings to come.

News media will likely use the terms "independent" or "independently 
commissioned," but such doesn't necessarily translate into 100 per 
cent accuracy; questions asked and/or research methodology can be manipulative.

However, there are rare knowledgeable public figures who, in my view, 
can be taken at face value: Scientist David Suzuki, while having 
publicly voiced his support for legalizing cannabis consumption, also 
voiced his concern over increased cases of severe mental illness - 
most notably severe schizophrenia - due to significantly genetically 
enhanced THC concentration levels.

Regardless of how one feels about his views on such a sacred cow 
topic as marijuana, Suzuki is one active citizen who truly cannot be 
simply, conveniently dismissed as naught but an ideologue, demagogue 
or worse, an opportunistic politician or activist news-media.

Frank G. Sterle, Jr.

White Rock
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom