MARIJUANA NOT HARMFUL TO HEALTH? IS TOO

Re. Feb. 12 Forum letter by Boyd R. Critz IV, "Marijuana is not harmful to
your health":

Excuse me? Is too!

I have read plenty about the mishaps of marijuana and the arrests, the cost
of lost lives, jobs, relationships, etc. I saw the results of a stoned
student when he plowed into the back of a school bus stopped at a red light
in Baltimore in 1969. One never forgets the sights and sounds of bloodied
children, carried screaming from the wrecked vehicle.

The dope head only broke his nose and had bruises. He could not even stand
up straight when police arrested him? Stupid did not get what he had done
to those innocent children.

Like Mr. Critz, I would like a good painkiller, as I have arthritis and
fibromyalgia. However, I do not want an illegal product that has potential
lung-damaging chemicals. You can't hide that stink. Furthermore, time and
space does not permit me to tell you about suicides associated with people
who smoke too much, become paranoid and try to escape life's problems.
Research will back that up.

Perhaps someday scientists will isolate the pain-killing properties of
marijuana and make a safe, legal drug that hopefully will not have bad side
effects. In the meantime, check the newspapers: people are arrested nearly
every day for illegal possession, etc.

Carolyn C. Hedden

Canton