FEW HEALTH RISKS IN MARIJUANA, PSYCHOLOGIST SAYS

'Benevolent' drug has ingredient resembling substances found in mother's
milk, he says

VICTORIA -- Marijuana is one of the most benign drugs known, an experimental
psychologist testified at the trial of two men accused of operating a
so-called compassion club that distributed pot to people with chronic
illnesses.

The drug has active ingredients that even resemble substances found in
mother's milk, James Geiwitz, whose expertise lies in risk analysis and the
assessment of research design, said in provincial court.

"There is no doubt in my mind there are very few health risks," he told
Judge Loretta Chaperon. "It's one of the most benevolent drugs we have
discovered in nature."

He was testifying for the defence in the trial of marijuana activist, Ted
Smith, 34, and Colby Budda, 30.

Both men are charged with possession of a controlled substance for the
purpose of trafficking.

Smith and Budda were working out of a storefront formerly known as Ted's
Books which was raided on Jan. 3, 2002.

Geiwitz said marijuana's benefits as a pain reliever, anti-nausea agent and
appetite stimulant are well known.

Its appetite-stimulating component even resembles something found in
mother's milk, he told the court.

Studies with monkeys and rats have indicated their babies die when that
marijuana-like substance is removed from the mother's milk, he said.

He gave testimony indicating that marijuana used as pain-relief medicine is
in a class by itself.

"Marijuana is the only chemical pain reliever you can take chronically, for
long periods of time, without significant health risks," he testified.

Geiwitz said as far as he can tell the best studies indicate the only risks
associated with marijuana are minor lung damage.

"The benefits are great. The risks are very small," said Geiwitz.

The court also heard Thursday from Ted Smith under cross-examination.

Smith said he never bothered to apply to the federal government for a
distributor's permit for marijuana.

Government restrictions would make it impossible to help more than a few
people at a time, he said.