Pubdate: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 Source: Chico News & Review, The (CA) Copyright: 2009 Chico Community Publishing, Inc. Contact: http://www.newsreview.com/chico/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/559 Author: Lloyd Foote POT SMOKE IS OK Re "Dark side of green" (Sifter, Dec. 3) and "Pot without smoke" (Uncommon Sense, Dec. 3): You mention the health hazards associated with marijuana, including the carcinogens consumed when it's smoked. I am surprised that you are not aware of the recent studies, most notably the UCLA/Pepperdine 30-year study that found no connection between smoking marijuana and cancer (see the Washington Post, May 26, 2006). They found that long-term and frequent users of the drug had a lower incidence of cancer than even nonsmokers. Also, a 2000 study at Complutense University and Autonoma University in Madrid, Spain, found that THC kills tumor cells in advanced glioma, a quick-killing cancer, and this was done with low doses and advanced cases. Last, refer to Canadian Rick Simpson (Phoenixtears.ca), who has used hemp oil (hash oil) to cure various cancers, including melanomas and brain cancers. So it appears you have not done your homework and have propagated the negative myths about marijuana. Lloyd Foote Chico Editor's note: The jury is still out on the potential health hazards of marijuana smoke. Before readers accept Mr. Foote's notion that it's perfectly healthful, we recommend they do their own research on the topic. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D