Oh they keep sending that out every once in a while. The link is there, but I'm not sure casual use in "normal" people makes them crazy. First there's good news about something in pot, then the press sends out something else to counterbalance with the government's position so the masses don't go all out in an orgy of reefer madness. I don't think it makes people crazy, unless there is some underlying problem to begin with. Also, many people with mental illness self-medicate with pot, especially bipolars and Schizophrenics, so....I don't know which came first. I don't know that it would deter me from sparking one up, from time to time. I'm nuts to begin with.

And...I just read an article (which I can dig up for reference) published this week in fact in Neurology (the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology) with all sorts of good news about potential medicinal use of cannabis for neurological conditions like Parkinson's. It's a fascinating review article describing the location and structure of the endogenous cannabinoid receptors in the brain (yep, they are there...you're born with them, and your little brain is just waiting for....ahem...) and they are plentiful in the Basal Ganglia, which is the area concerned with motor movements, amongst other things. It is also the area in the brain where dopamine deficiency causes Parkinsons.

So the pot controversy wears on and on...some folks keep finding or trying to find something bad about it, and the pro-medical types rave on about it like it's a panacea. Kinda like..."Certs is a breath mint....Certs is a candy mint....stop, stop you're both right..".

Which reminds me...I"ve been holding it in the entire time I type this...can I exhale now?

Here's the reference: Endocannabinoids in basal ganglia circuits: Implications for Parkinson disease Benarroch; Neurology.2007; 69: 306-309.

I can post the abstract if there's interest. The article cannot be downloaded without a subscription to the journal, but I can send anybody interested a paper copy by snail mail. Lemme know.