Pubdate: Thu, 29 May 2014 Source: Boston Herald (MA) Copyright: 2014 The Boston Herald, Inc Contact: http://news.bostonherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53 Note: Prints only very short LTEs. Author: Prudence Young Darigan Page: 16 POT NEEDS STUDY I wonder what has become of rational thought in the United States ("Tax the damned weed," May 16). We rejoice that some new venue has chosen to ban cigarette use or sales, yet are racing willy-nilly into making marijuana (a product which is also taken in to the lungs and which furthermore has mind-altering properties) available for public consumption. Although cannabis has been around for millennia, there has only recently been research conducted on its short-and long-term effects. There must be one or more substances that will provide the same medicinal relief. The reason given for the failure of Prohibition was that alcohol had already been legal, so why are we rushing to legitimize marijuana before we have had time to fully examine its long-term effects? Prudence Young Darigan, Plymouth - --- MAP posted-by: Matt