Pubdate: Fri, 04 Mar 2011
Source: Missoulian (MT)
Copyright: 2011 Missoulian
Contact:  http://www.missoulian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/720
Author: Ben Forsyth

DRUGS: LOOK BEYOND MYTH OF POT SAFETY

Newspapers have recently published articles claiming marijuana is no
more harmful than aspirin. But detailed investigation has found that
cannabis can be much more deadly than salicylic acid (aspirin).

Those articles imply that no one has ever died from marijuana use, but
that overdosing on aspirin can kill you. However, there is not a
record of that happening in Montana or the nation. I personally
checked with local medical personnel and the huge mortality databanks
of five national organizations (the Centers for Disease Control, the
National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Food and Drug Administration,
the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of
Health) and could not find one recorded case of death by overdose of
aspirin.

I did find, however, that in Montana cannabis is related to numerous
deaths. The Montana Highway Patrol claims there have been 37
fatalities on Montana highways in the last year where marijuana played
a decisive role.

The Montana Board of Medical Examiners also proved cannabis was
related to some deaths. Of the 20 cases of doctor-certified marijuana
use that board has looked at, five indicated cannabis had a
"significant or potentially significant impact on patient morbidity."

Marijuana misuse and abuse can have deadly results. The aspirin
argument is part of the misleading mythology that supports marijuana
use in our state.

Ben Forsyth

Great Falls
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.