POT IS STILL BAD STUFF

I appreciated the views of Larry Crompton expressed in his letter
regarding the illicit use of marijuana. I wish, though, for a broader
discussion. And while I am not a physician, I see no letters from such
experts on the matter forthcoming. Hence, I take it upon myself to
share what personal research has for me uncovered.

First, all arguments in favor of marijuana -- under any pretext
whatever -- are grossly untenable.

That the American Medical Association has rejected the use of
marijuana as a medical treatment is by now well known. But even the
National Multiple Sclerosis Society has been unswerving in its
affirmation that all documented studies to date "have not provided
convincing evidence that marijuana benefits people with MS."

The Connecticut Chapter of the American Society of Addiction Medicine
likewise affirmed that "there has been to date no critical research
performed establishing its efficacy and safety."

Moreover, the THC in marijuana can be synthesized artificially, thus
negating any excuse for smoking it. Thus, the obstinate pot smoker is
left to justify his indulgence on purely hedonistic grounds, claiming
it to be "fun."

Second, apart from its being void of benefit, it poses myriad risks.
"In fact," the British Medical Association reports, "[marijuana] has
been linked to greater risk of heart disease, lung cancer, bronchitis
and emphysema."

Finally, marijuana is addictive. Indeed, "more and more studies are
finding that marijuana has addictive properties," and "more than
120,000 people in the US seek treatment for marijuana addiction every
year." (http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/
Health_Education/atod/marijuana.htm).

Kevin Taylor, Corvallis