WEED LIKE TO SEE THE SCIENCE

Much thanks and respect to letter writer Stan White ("Does Jesus Get the
Munchies?"Jan. 20) and columnist Tom Gogola (Fishing Report, Jan. 20) for
humorously reminding us that it's high time to stop jailing marijuana users.

For the record, the Yale study purporting to relate marijuana use to
health problems associated with smoking tobacco did not make the
distinction of rates of respiratory symptoms for marijuana-only
smokers. According to Jacqueline E. Weaver, Yale Office of Public
Affairs Assistant Director for Science and Medicine, "[t]hey were
interested in looking at the additive effect."

A 2004 study found that "a drastic quantitative reduction in
non-cannabinoid compounds" may be achieved by using a vaporizer, which
effectively suppresses most of the dangerous byproducts of combustion,
such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Jose Melendez

DeLand, Florida