POT: CANNABIS ISN'T AS HARMLESS AS SUGGESTED

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States.
But if you think it's hot to smoke pot, consider this: Two recent
studies show that cannabis damages the vessels in your brain by
constricting blood flow -- putting you at risk for stroke.

It makes no difference whether you smoke it, eat it or take a pill.
The active ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the culprit. The
stronger its concentration -- ranging from 1% in some herbal
preparations to 65% in some hashish oils -- the greater the danger.
Long-term and heavy users are at risk.

Cannabis has long been associated with harmful changes in the brain;
now sophisticated medical tools can pinpoint them. One study
demonstrates that impairment of the brain's blood flow persists for
at least a month after the last high. This eventually can lead to a
stroke and its resulting paralysis, and problems with vision, memory
and speech.

What about medical marijuana? Scientific studies are underway to nail
down its usefulness and safety, especially as an aid for pain.