Pubdate: Sun, 29 Jul 2012 Source: Los Angeles Times (CA) Copyright: 2012 Los Angeles Times Contact: http://www.latimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248 Author: Steven Asimow Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n361/a11.html POT AS A PRESCRIPTION Sack makes a number of valid points about the adverse effects of chronic marijuana use, but he fails to point out that the same could be said of alcohol. And some of his statements belong in the Catch-22 category. He says that increased funding for marijuana research might lead to greater understanding of the effects of cannabis on our bodies, but he overlooks that the government discourages independent research. He says that independent labs have found mold, synthetic insecticides and other toxins in pot. This isn't surprising, as the government obviously doesn't have any regulations dealing with cannabis purity. Steven Asimow Glendale - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom