Pubdate: Sun, 08 May 2016
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Dennis Noble
Contact:  http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Dennis Noble
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v16/n316/a03.html

ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE POINTS TO POT BENEFITS

Re: "Dispensing marijuana is quackery," letter, May 6.

The letter-writer maintains "a mountain of evidence ... exists that ...
marijuana is not safe for human consumption."

A mountain of evidence exists to the contrary. It is anecdotal
evidence, of course, because marijuana consumption is illegal. And one
does not test for quality or the proper dosage nor establish standards
on an illegal product. Because ... it's illegal.

Too much has been written of the medical benefits of marijuana to give
it such short shift. Charlotte's Web, a strain of marijuana with a
high ratio of medicinal cannabidiol and a low rate of the psychoactive
ingredient THC, has been shown by Sanjay Gupta on CNN to effect
wonders for children suffering from epilepsy and multiple seizures.

I could expect the writer to express these opinions when that
propaganda film Reefer Madness first appeared in the 1930s, because
back then people didn't know any better. But not now. Surely not now.

And, in the interest of full disclosure, I have never used marijuana
in any form. But should I need medical marijuana some day in the
future, I will be first in line at a dispensary.

Dennis Noble Colwood 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D