Pubdate: Sat, 17 May 2003
Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 Hacker Press Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.abbynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155
Author: Eric Myrholm

WHO SAYS POT'S NOT DANGEROUS

Editor, The News:

In his letter of May 8, Alan Kidd of Abbotsford states "Marijuana is 
absolutely not a dangerous drug!''

Where did this information come from? His friends who occasionally use this 
drug told him so.

He also noted that a statement from a U.S. National Drug Policy director's 
interview "can hardly be seen as objective, given the source."

It would seem that a statement about drugs from a drug research and policy 
centre concerned about a nation's health would be more objective than a 
comment from friends who are current "pot" users.

A report from the British Lung Foundation review of previous research 
highlights "that just three marijuana joints a day causes the same damage 
to the lung's airways as 20 cigarettes, mainly because of the way joints 
are smoked.''

The amount of smoke taken into the lungs from marijuana is two thirds 
larger than tobacco and taken one third deeper, smoke is held an average of 
four times longer before being exhaled.

Other points in the report include: Tar from cannabis cigarettes contains 
up to 50 percent higher concentrations of carcinogens benzathracenes and 
benzpyrenes than tobacco smoke.

THC decreases the function of the immune system cells that help protect the 
lungs from infection.The modern cannabis smoker may be exposed to greater 
doses of THC than in the 1960s and 70s.

In Jon Ferry's column, in the Province of Sunday, May 4, he refers to an 
article in the British Medical Journal that indicates "the ill-effects of 
smoking marijuana are comparable to those of smoking tobacco.''

Prof. John Henry and two other research doctors at St.Mary's Hospital, 
London point out that marijuana cigarettes may be smoked less frequently 
than nicotine cigarettes, but they are inhaled much more deeply. The 
researches suggest that marijuana might be responsible for the death of 
30,000 people a year in the U.K.

Even if the number of deaths attributable to cannabis turned out to be a 
fraction of that figure, they say "smoking cannabis would still be a major 
health hazard."

Ferry also states: "Nowadays our progressive leaders ostracize tobacco 
smokers and vilify those involved in the tobacco industry. Yet they remain 
afraid to condemn those who drive our children to pot"

Our children need the wisdom, guidance and support of all caring adults in 
ensuring the dangerous drug marijuana does not become more easily accessible.

Eric Myrholm

Abbotsford
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