Pubdate: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 Source: National Post (Canada) Copyright: 2001 Southam Inc. Contact: http://www.nationalpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286 Authors: Benjamin Sharma, John Croft, Richard A. Harshman IN PRAISE OF POT Filip Palda rightly points out the downside of marijuana use. What he does not show, however, is any reasonable ground for forbidding its use. Is it the government's role to force us to live in the most efficient way possible? If smoking a plant makes them feel happy and become a bit dumber, so be it. Benjamin Sharma, Princeton, N.J. - ----------------------------------------------- IN PRAISE OF POT Sigh. Yet another lecture from someone who does not smoke marijuana regularly to those who do. The article claims that marijuana is a "uniphasic" drug, whose only effect is to stupefy the mind, and that "nothing productive or uplifting comes from its recreational use." From personal experience I beg to differ, as would legions of artists, musicians, and other creative people. Coming from a family that self-medicated with both alcohol and tobacco to disastrous ends, I take strong issue with the concept of either of these drugs being "uplifting." In the end, the truth is simply this: Marijuana is neither better nor worse than alcohol or tobacco, and if these drugs are legal, then it should be legal as well. To understand the issue, Filip Palda should toke up, smarten up and relax. John Croft, Victoria, B.C. - ------------------------------------------------- IN PRAISE OF POT The column by Filip Palda (Toke Up, and Dumb Down, Aug. 23) demonstrates the lack of understanding about marijuana among many otherwise educated people. He characterizes marijuana as "a uniphasic drug whose effect is to scramble the mind," as compared to alcohol and tobacco, which are "biphasic" having good effects as well as bad. His view, that it "stupefies" and turns its user into "a dullard," is only slightly less distorted than the propaganda of earlier times about reefer madness. Like almost any drug, the effects of marijuana depend on how much you take. Excessive amounts can produce the effects he describes, but then excessive amounts of alcohol can be far more debilitating. At moderate doses, the effects on the mind from marijuana are both complex and subtle. It can gently intensify colours, touch and enjoyment of foods and sex. It alters time sense and deepens the appreciation of music. There is often increased openness to alternative perspectives and opinions. Richard A. Harshman, Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ont. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom