*** Dr.Spock said ***
 [I'm serious, folks!  The following is a quote from Dr. Benjamin
 Spock's BABY and CHILD CARE, 1985, from the chapter entitled
 "Adolescence," pp.456-457]:

"The use of marijuana is in a distinctly different category from that of
the more dangerous drugs.  A large percentage of young people -- even of
junior high and high school age -- have tried it at least a few times.
There is no element of physical addiction.

"Most of the young people who have used marijuana have tried it only a
few times or use it much less often than daily. The uncommon individual
who regularly smokes several times a day and remains in a state of mild
intoxication should not be thought of as having been ruined by
marijuana, I'd say, but as a person who has lost his or her sense of
purpose and seeks comfort in marijuana, just as other individuals have
chronically abused alcohol and other dangerous drugs.

"Though marijuana has been accused of causing many kinds of physical and
psychological disability, and though no one can promise that any
substance will never be found harmful, the fact is that up to the time
of this writing the only damage that has been proved is a lowering of
sex hormone and sperm count in males who use it amply and regularly.
Young people keep up with the news about marijuana and only lose
confidence in adults who make exaggerated or discredited claims.

"It certainly is true that marijuana is much less dangerous than tobacco
and alcohol which kill or incapacitate tens of thousands each
year.

"...I'm not advocating or justifying the use of any drug.  If we had
a happier society with fewer tensions -- which I believe we could have
-- people wouldn't need to soothe themselves with any drug.  I'm only
suggesting to parents that there is no presently known reason to become
panicky about the occasional use of marijuana."
                                                                               

"Marij