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 - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D