Pubdate: Wed, 13 Jun 2001
Source: Evening Post (New Zealand)
Copyright: Wellington Newspapers (2001) Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.evpost.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/142
Author: Antony Paltridge and THE INDEPENDENT
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

TANCZOS UNFAZED BY HEART ATTACK-DOPE LINK

Green MP Nandor Tanczos won't be backing off his campaign to legalise 
cannabis use despite American scientists warning it may increase the risk 
of heart attacks in middle-aged people.

Researchers in Boston, Massachusetts, said the chances of having a heart 
attack increased nearly five times in the first hour after smoking 
marijuana. Most at risk are baby boomers, who are more likely to use 
cannabis than previous generations and are now at the age when they are 
most prone to heart disease.

Dr Murray Mittleman, director of cardiovascular epidemiology at the Beth 
Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, said: "People's risk of coronary artery 
disease increases as they enter their 40s and 50s, so the risks associated 
with smoking marijuana, which might have been a trivial issue when people 
were younger, may now pose a significant health concern."

But Mr Tanczos said the study needed to be put into context. "It says that 
the risk is the same as for strenuous physical exercise and I don't think 
we should ban jogging."

Mr Tanczos said many legal drugs carried risks.

"The point of the policy debate is not whether it is good or bad for you 
but what we should do if people smoke it. Do we give them criminal records? 
That does not seem to stop them."

Heart Foundation medical director Diana North said the Boston study was 
very limited.

"The critical thing is that this is a very small study and it's very hard 
to know whether it's a true effect or not but it requires further 
investigation . . . watch this space closely."

In his report Dr Mittleman said: "The risk associated with marijuana use is 
about the same as the risk we found for strenuous physical exercise, and a 
little higher than that observed for sexual intercourse."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager