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Vaporizer takes danger out of marijuana use
08/04/07|Times Union|Letter to the editor

Thanks for the recent story "1 joint equals up to 5 cigarettes." It's interesting to note that smoking marijuana does not increase emphysema, but does increase respiratory symptoms like coughing and wheezing. Fortunately, these symptoms can be sidestepped with the vaporizer, a new gizmo that heats cannabis until active components are released in a fine mist. The cannabis never ignites. No fire means no gaseous toxins or noxious tars.

Dr. Donald Abrams at San Francisco General Hospital recently published research showing that vaporizer users are not exposed to toxic gases. Data from my laboratory in Albany revealed that users who vaporize are significantly less likely to report respiratory symptoms of any kind.

As the call for legal access to medical marijuana becomes louder and louder in New York, it's nice to know that this medicine can be available to the sickest of the sick without endangering their lungs.

MITCH EARLEYWINE, Ph.D. Associate Professor Psychology University

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