RESEARCH HINTS AT BENEFIT IN MARIJUANA

Low doses of the main active ingredient in marijuana slowed hardening
of the arteries in mice, suggesting a hint for developing a new
therapy in people.

Experts stressed that the finding does not mean people should smoke
marijuana in hopes of getting the same benefit.

"To extrapolate this to, 'A joint a day will keep the doctor away,' I
think is premature," said Peter Libby, chief of cardiovascular
medicine at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital.

The mouse study is being presented today in the journal Nature by
Francois Mach of Geneva University Hospital in Switzerland and
colleagues. He said in an e-mail that he thinks that future work will
focus on finding drugs that mimic the benefit without producing
marijuana's effects on the brain.