SCIENCE AND POT

Editor -- In Rick DelVecchio's article, "Mainstream science leery of
medicinal pot use" (May 20), I found the concern of "mainstream science"
about possible adverse effects of marijuana somewhat disingenuous.

As everyone in health care knows, there is no medication or treatment that
has no known adverse effects.

Here is an excerpted list of known adverse effects of another, much more
commonly taken drug: "Stimulation, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal
pain, neutropenia (dangerously low numbers of white blood cells),
thrombocytopenia (dangerously low numbers of platelets), rash, angioedema,
anaphylaxis." My book goes on to caution readers that long-term use of this
drug may contribute to renal failure and hepatic toxicity. The name of the
drug? Tylenol.

Lisa Ochs

San Francisco