POT ALLEGATIONS TOO SWEEPING, NO BACKUP

To the Editor,

Re: Pot triggers mental illness in some people, March 2.

B. Lerch makes some sweeping allegations about negative effects of
marijuana without offering any substantiation or referring readers to
any scientific studies that may support his allegations.

It would be jumping the gun to assume that many people suffer
negative effects from using marijuana just because B. Lerch does.

I suffer feelings of depersonalization and subsequent attacks of
anxiety or panic from taking Demerol, but I wouldn't dream of
demanding that, for that reason, others should be punished or denied
access for using it.

I deal with it in a simple way that doesn't affect others. I no
longer use it and I let doctors know I'm allergic.

B. Lerch admits it took a number of uses of marijuana to discover
that he/she reacts with a "depersonalization disorder."

An allergic reaction -- either physical or mental -- normally occurs
after the first use. So perhaps marijuana is not causing or
exacerbating a mental illness but, rather, is expanding B. Lerch's
awareness of his/her own mind such that he/she is becoming aware of
psychological issues previously buried in the subconscious.

If that is the case, then blaming problems on marijuana instead of
using the opportunity to "know thyself" may not be the most effective
method for generating increased mental health.

Many people may recall the old bumpersticker, "Opposed to abortion?
Then don't have one."

In the same vein, one could say, "Opposed to marijuana? Then don't use it."

George Kosinski

Gibsons