CANNABIS NOT TOTALLY BENIGN

The Editor,

Re. "Cannabis comments curious" (Letters, The Tri-City News, Oct. 22).

In response to C. Taplin's letter, I do agree marijuana can be used
to help some mental illnesses but it must be brought to light that
marijuana also frequently triggers or worsens mental illnesses. These
illnesses, among others, include chronic anxiety with or without
panic attacks, agoraphobia, schizophrenia and depersonalization disorder.

I would not make these claims without out the references to back them
up. So if you would like references for further information, check
out Marijuana and Madness by David Castle and Robin Murray, Feeling
Unreal: Depersonalization Disorder and The Loss of Self by Dr. Daphne
Simeon and www.nodid.org, the National Organization For Drug-Induced Disorders.

B. Lerch, Port Coquitlam