Pubdate: Thu, 06 Jan 2011 Source: Oceanside Star (BC) Copyright: 2011 Oceanside Star Contact: http://www.canada.com/oceansidestar/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4880 Author: Ralph Givens Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n1071/a11.html POT NEGATIVES LACK PROOF THE EDITOR: Re. 'Pot affects motivation, memory' (Dec. 30). Deborah Joyce's arguments for amotivation, memory loss, gateway effect, impaired executive functions and contaminated pot would be more convincing if she offered some scientific proof to support her theories. Her accusations are far from being accepted by science and medicine because there are dozens of peer-reviewed studies opposing her reefer madness notions and no proof whatsoever that she is correct. Her unsupported marijuana claims have been repeated so many times that many folks may believe they are gospel truth, but in fact all of the negatives claimed for cannabis lack proof. Legalization will enable regulation of marijuana which will eliminate underage users and remove tainted pot (which is rare) from the marketplace the same way liquor laws protect the public from toxic alcohol and underage drinking. In 5,000 years of recorded history there is not one credible case of marijuana causing a death through toxicity. Ralph Givens, Daly City, CA - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom