Pubdate: Thu, 23 Feb 2012 Source: Tucson Weekly (AZ) Copyright: 2012 Tucson Weekly Contact: http://www.tucsonweekly.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/462 Author: Nick Marakas THANKS, NICK, BUT WE'LL PASS The word to use is "cannabis." Your column will be a lot more helpful once you read The Pot Book ("J.M. on J.M.," Medical MJ, Feb. 2). You have yet to mention that just like endorphins, the brain has its own endogenous cannabinoid receptors. This was discovered by researchers in the '90s. Also, you have failed to have a decent article on sativa versus indica, or on CBD, by far the most medically promising compound found in marijuana. Please reduce your swearing, too. My grandmother once said swearing just means you have a poor vocabulary. You can usually find a better word. Also worth reading is the section on pot in Integrative Oncology, edited by Andrew Weil. Marijuana may protect the brain following head trauma or the neurotoxic effects of alcohol. It also may actually cause regeneration of brain cells. Also, long-term heavy pot-smokers actually had lower rates of lung cancer than nonsmokers in one study. So there may be a protective effect going on. Please make your column stronger. If not, I will gladly write it for you. Nick Marakas - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.