Pubdate: Tue, 18 Oct 2005
Source: Guardian, The (UK)
Copyright: 2005 Guardian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/175
Author: Alok Jha, The Guardian
Note: The study is at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n1639.a04.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Cannabis - Popular)

CANNABIS STUDY FINDS LESS CANCER RISK THAN TOBACCO

Cannabis smoke is not as carcinogenic as that of tobacco, according to
a research review reported in the Harm Reduction Journal. The two drugs
are chemically very similar, but their effects differ due to their
respective active ingredients.

Both types of smoke contain the same carcinogenic compounds - but
whereas nicotine activates the compounds, THC, the active ingredient
in cannabis, has been shown to neutralise some compounds in
experiments on mice. The authors warn that, as cannabis is frequently
smoked with tobacco, the two together may produce unexpected effects.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake