MARIJUANA HASN'T CHANGED THAT MUCH

Regarding Christine Mathews' letter (Friday):

I am a child of the 1960s and 1970s (graduated high school in 1961)
and although I agree pot is stronger today than in the '70s, it is not
because somebody discovered buds, it's from horticulturists improving
the product. We smoked the buds, not leaves. Some people used the
dried leaves for a tea which I'm told was great for menstrual cramps
and headaches but for smoking it was the bud.

As far as "Skunk weed" that was a variety of pot, just as Mendocino
Gold, Kona Gold and Red Bud, all of which did not have the distinctive
smell of skunk weed. I'm sure from the tone of your letter that you
consider "Reefer Madness" to be the gold standard of marijuana
information but I must inform you, your information is wrong and
smells strongly of government information literature.

Thom Lincoln, Shingletown