DESPITE HEADLINE, STUDY DIDN'T FIND MARIJUANA KILLED BRAIN CELLS

I'm writing in response to your (June 20) article, ''Rat study
(http://onlineathens.com/stories/062003/uga_20030620035.shtml) shows using
dope kills brain cells.'' First of all, "dope kills brain cells" is just
wrong. Using that as the headline was irresponsible journalism. Not only did
the study discussed not find that, but numerous studies have shown marijuana
does not cause any permanent physical damage to the brain
(www.drugwarfacts.org/marijuan.htm). In fact, some recent studies have found
the compounds in marijuana to be helpful in preventing brain damage from
Alzheimer's disease and strokes. Also, you can't determine the real
cognitive impairment a drug causes by testing it on rats. The rats have no
idea they're under the influence of a drug, and thus cannot compensate for
its effects. All this study really found is that marijuana makes rats
stoned. No surprise there.

Jed Denlea
Boulder, Col.