vol1 - Page 92
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marijuanaSs long history of uses but also because the drug is
currently used on a daily basis by millions of Americans and in
..... _ other countries around the world_ 5_7/ This long history of usage
without fatality or serious injury to a single user is
strong -- if not overwhelming -- evidence of the drug's
safety. _/
Most other drugs, by contrast, cannot claim this
spotless record of safe use. For example, the common drug
aspirin causes hundreds, if not thousandss of deaths each
Scientists assign drugs an LD 50 figure -- /_e., the
lethal dosage at which fifty percent of those ingesting a drug
will die -- for each substance in order to assess the drug's
overall.safety. _q/ Using animals, researchers have never been
able to establish an LD 50 level for marijuanao 9-I/ Their best
estimate is that marijuana_s LD 50 level is approximately twenty
57/ Affidavit of Dr. Andrew Weilt _ 54. In fact, recent
figures indicate that from twenty to fifty million Americans
routinely-_albeit illegally--smoke marijuana without the benefit
of direct medical supervision. /__.
___/ Cross-examination of Dro. Norman Zinberg, Tro ii-175 (most
important element in determining safety of drug is whether it
will kill patient or is seriously toxic)°
__/ Affidavit of Dr. Andrew Weil_ _ 35. Cross-examination of
Dr. Norman Zinberg_ Tr_ 11-241.
6_/ Cross-examination of Dr. Lester Grinspoon, Tr. 14-45 & 14 _.
........ 46.
61/ Affidavit of Dr. Andrew Weil_ _ 36. See also Cross-
examination of Dr. Lester Grinspoon, Tr. 14-46 & 14-47 (Phase Z
studies on marijuana have never been able to establish LD 50
level).
i""
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