Reference the article by Scott Canon, "Marijuana's Curative Powers Stir
a Dilemma", 2-18-97.

Dear Editor,

In the opening paragraph of his story, Scott Canon stumbles badly. Scott
says "No doubt, pot dulls the senses". This statement is true and false at
the same time.

A fact of life at rock concerts the last 30 years has been the overwhelming
presence of pot. The odor of marijuana, drifting over the crowd, is a smell
that can't be mistaken. The reason, as any concert afficionado will tell
you, is because music sounds better when you're high on pot. Pot smokers
have a heightened awareness of musical sounds, not a dulling of the sense
of sound.

On the other hand, smoking marijuana causes a reduction of pain, and a
reduction of the symptoms that cause pain, for the sufferers of many
diseases. An almost miraculous extension of longevity is achieved by AIDS
patients who smoke pot. There are many more medical examples of pain
reduction. So, marijuana dulls the senses associated with pain.

These apparent contradictions are just two of the reasons why we need a
better understanding of this plant than is provided by "reefer madness"
government propaganda.

Sincerely,
Arthur R Sobey
Corpus Christi, Tx.