Pubdate: Wed, 05 Oct 2005 Source: Arizona Daily Wildcat (AZ Edu) Copyright: 2005 Arizona Daily Wildcat Contact: http://wildcat.arizona.edu/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/725 Author: Allison Villa Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1571/a03.html MARIJUANA NOT AS HARMLESS AS MANY THINK I'm going to have to disagree with Scott Patterson in his column, "Legalization long overdue." Though marijuana has medical benefits, it can have harmful effects as well. It can damage nerve cells in the brain and impair memory. Marijuana affects the heart and lung and promotes lung cancer. Marijuana usage can also affect the body's immunization system by reducing its ability to fight off diseases. Because of these negative effects, marijuana should stay illegal for everyone's safety. Allison Villa pre-pharmacy freshman - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake