SIX KILLED BY HASH

Oslo: The myth that cannabis is harmless has been destroyed. The Forensic
Toxicology Institute reports that six Norwegians have died as a direct
result of smoking hash in a period of six years.

- - We have made a remarkable discovery says the chief of the Forensic
Toxicology Institute, Jorg Morland. The findings were published in the
latest issue of the journal Mot Stoff (Against Drugs), published by the
National Organisation Against Drug Abuse, and they shall shortly be
published in an international journal.

- - It is widely known that hash smoking puts a strain on the heart and that
blood pressure rises. But that someone should die as a direct result of
smoking hash is new to us, and these findings will arouse international
attention, says Morland.

- - What can you say about the deaths?

- - That they occoured over a six year period, that is, one death per year.
The average age of the persons who underwent autopsies was a little over 30
years. They were all hash smokers, but there is no reason to believe they
were big consumers, adds Moreland.

The autopsies showed the six persons did not have substances other than
THC, the active component of hash, in their bodies.

- - They did not have specially high concentrations of THC in their bodies
when they died. There was also nothing to indicate the persons had a
greater susceptibility for heart and circulation diseases than normal.
These discoveries are sensational, says Moreland.