POT SMOKE IS OK

Re "Dark side of green" (Sifter, Dec. 3) and "Pot without smoke"
(Uncommon Sense, Dec. 3):

You mention the health hazards associated with marijuana, including
the carcinogens consumed when it's smoked. I am surprised that you are
not aware of the recent studies, most notably the UCLA/Pepperdine
30-year study that found no connection between smoking marijuana and
cancer (see the Washington Post, May 26, 2006). They found that
long-term and frequent users of the drug had a lower incidence of
cancer than even nonsmokers.

Also, a 2000 study at Complutense University and Autonoma University
in Madrid, Spain, found that THC kills tumor cells in advanced glioma,
a quick-killing cancer, and this was done with low doses and advanced
cases.

Last, refer to Canadian Rick Simpson (Phoenixtears.ca), who has used
hemp oil (hash oil) to cure various cancers, including melanomas and
brain cancers.

So it appears you have not done your homework and have propagated the
negative myths about marijuana.

Lloyd Foote

Chico

Editor's note: The jury is still out on the potential health hazards
of marijuana smoke. Before readers accept Mr. Foote's notion that it's
perfectly healthful, we recommend they do their own research on the
topic.