INVESTIGATE CANCER-FIGHTING PROPERTIES OF POT

Are Sarah and Richard O'Connell aware the federal Government new back in
1974 that cannabis slowed the growth of three kinds of cancer? (Couple
Battling Cancer, by Norah E. Machia, Sunday 23).

The article appeared in the "Local" section of The Washington Post on Aug.
18, 1974. Under the headline, "Cancer Curb Is Studied," it read in part
"The active chemical agent in marijuana curbs the growth of three kinds of
cancer in mice and may also suppress the immunity reaction that causes
rejection of organ transplants, a Medical College of Virginia team has
discovered."

The researchers "found that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol ) slowed the growth
of lung cancers, breast cancers, and a virus-induced leukemia in laboratory
mice, and prolonged their lives by as much as 36 percent."

The DEA immediately shut down the Virginia study and all further
cannabis/tumor research. In 1976, President Gerald Ford put an end to all
public cannabis research and granted exclusive research rights to major
pharmaceutical companies.

Spanish researchers, led by Dr. Manuel Guzman of Complutense University,
Madrid reported the same findings in the March 2000 issue of Nature Medicine.

I have seen several editorials on medical marijuana in the Watertown Daily
Times over the years. Answer my question, why would the government want to
keep us from knowing this?

Information and all references can be found at www.jackherer.com.

Larry Seguin

Lisbon, NY