A rebuttal to Alan Leshner claims on cannabis

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Dear Mr. Leshner,
I received an your article published in the Boston Globe on 22 Nov 1998, titled "MARIJUANA ISN'T A HARMLESS DRUG." I believe we both share a common concern over raising healthy youths. Even with this collective cause, I still must strongly disagree with many of the points made.

Two of these points were also discussed in the House of Lords Science and Technology -Ninth report released on November 4 1998. They are:

• Damage to lungs and immune system, found no epidemiological connection between Cancer and cannabis consumption. It did hint at possible respiratory problems with extremely heavy long term use. I emphasize 'possible' since many other studies counter these findings.
• Mental/neurological effects: Complex Cognitive function might be effected in the long term but these effects are slight, and the existence of the theory is extremely controversial.

Among the numerous claims, and studies made by your agency and other federal agencies showing the danger of cannabis other studies refute these claims.