POT REPORT IGNORES MEDICINAL VALUE

To the Editor,

Re: Wide use of pot in B.C. alarms doc (News Bulletin Daily, Nov. 3).

This article gave a thorough description of the apparent connection
between pot and psychosis, but it was very narrow in scope.

If you're going to mention pot in the context of psychiatry, it's
fair to also mention the work of Dr. Lester Grinspoon; emeritus
associate of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Along with James B. Bakalar, also of Harvard Medical School,
Grinspoon wrote Marihuana: The Forbidden Medicine.

This book presents the use of marijuana for a wide range of medical
conditions, some psychological.

Another aspect the author didn't consider is the chicken-and-egg equation.

Is it possible that people suffering from psychosis are making a
misguided attempt to self-medicate?

In other words, is it possible that marijuana use may sometimes be a
side-effect of psychosis and not always a cause or effect?

Pot, in large amounts over a long period, can have harmful effects.
Like smoking tobacco, smoking pot harms the lungs.

Still, focus on the potential damaging effects of marijuana without
mention of marijuana's medicinal value is biased.

This is another example of crying wolf in the guise of education.

The problem with this method is that when you misportray the dangers
of marijuana, warnings about the dangers of drugs with a high
potential for life-damaging results, like crystal methamphetamine and
cocaine, also go unheard.

Now that's alarming.

Galina Pembroke

Nanaimo