MARIJUANA CLAIMS DISPUTED

Dear sir,

As a federally licensed medical marijuana user who is also married to
one, I take exception with some of the information in your Addiction
Awareness Week article (Sentinel, November 19).

For example: "Even using 'just pot' can lead to psychological problems
and the eventual use of harder drugs. Marijuana is as addictive as all
the other drugs."

There is no science to support the notion that pot 'causes' any
psychological or physiological damage, and most science on the subject
shows that pot is no more addictive than video games, caffeine, or
chocolate.

One look no further than the 2002 Senate Committee Reports on Drugs
for proof - http://www.cfdp.ca/sen2000.htm

Recent science out of Germany even shows how cannabinoids stimulate
the body's production of TIMP-1, which helps healthy cells resist
cancer invasion -
www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20071226/pot-slows-cancer-in-test-tube

To continually perpetuate the myths that pot is dangerous, addictive,
or somehow a 'gateway' to the use of harder drugs is scientifically
inaccurate, and socially - and professionally - irresponsible.

Please stop it, and print a correction.

Russell Barth

Federally licensed medical marijuana user, Patients Against Ignorance and
Discrimination on Cannabis.