POT'S UNSMOKED POTENTIAL

Lucya Almeida and Marcus Hundevad write that marijuana cures cancer
(NOW June 4-10).

There is evidence that goes beyond the research Almeida and Hundevad
mention. Scientists were recently quite surprised to learn that the
statistical incidence of lung cancer is not elevated in marijuana
smokers, even though marijuana smoke contains the same carcinogenic
tar as tobacco smoke.

If marijuana smoke contains a carcinogen yet does not cause cancer,
it must logically also contain an anti-?carcinogen. So the medicinal
use of marijuana may go well beyond what is currently recognized.

David Palter

Toronto