XPost: talk.politics.drugs   
   From: nathan_engle@yahoo.com   
      
   Pete nospam Zakel wrote:   
   > Actually, I would go farther than this.  As far as I know there has never   
   > been any case of brain damage associated with any type of cannabis use,   
   > whether normal or abnormal.   
   >   
   > Well, with the possible exception of dropping a bale of it on someone's head.   
      
   During the Confederate siege of Lexington, Missouri in   
   the Civil War (Sept 13-20, 1861) bales of hemp were used   
   as a makeshift breastwork by rebel soldiers.  Throughout   
   the siege the line of bales was pushed slowly towards   
   Union lines.  Attempts were made to set it on fire, but   
   they were foiled by the fact that the bales had been   
   soaked with water from the nearby Missouri river.  By   
   the end of a week of action the Union commander agreed   
   to surrender his force of 4,000 soldiers, including 1,000   
   horses, 5 cannons, 3,000 muskets, and other much-needed   
   supplies.   
      
   Not exactly what I would call a "smoking gun" for claims   
   about brain damage, but a colorful piece of American   
   history nevertheless.   
      
   --   
   Brother Nate               Electron Juggler   
   nathan_engle@yahoo.com     http://mypage.iu.edu/~nengle   
   "Truth crushed to earth will rise again."   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)