Pubdate: Sat, 19 Jan 2013
Source: Columbian, The (WA)
Copyright: 2013 The Columbian Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.columbian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/92
Author: Sandra S. Bennett
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n020/a08.html

DANGERS OF POT ARE REAL

The Columbian's Jan. 10 editorial "Perplexed About Pot" is long 
overdue. More than 20,000 scientific studies about marijuana/cannabis 
exist and none give it a clean bill of health. I've often sent copies 
of PubMed's monthly list of published studies on marijuana to The 
Columbian, hoping someone would bother to take a look at them, and 
I've also sent the long list of studies linking marijuana to 
psychosis and schizophrenia. All to no avail.

At least 99 percent of advocates for pot legalization are, I suspect, 
users - and rarely is it for any perceived or misconceived "medical" 
reason. Unfortunately, a number of these pot users are also extremely 
wealthy and have been buying media space and supporting hempfests and 
drug culture conferences for years.

Fifteen years ago at a National Organization for the Reform of 
Marijuana Laws conference, a speaker advised his audience: "In a few 
years, most of the media will have smoked pot and they'll be on our side."

Unfortunately, that has come to pass.

I particularly appreciated the editorial's statement that " ... our 
level of ignorance about the science of it all remains staggering, 
not to mention dangerous." So very true.

Sandra S. Bennett

LA CENTER
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