CANNABIS 'IS MAKING TEENAGERS IMPOTENT', SAY DOCTORS

Growing numbers of teenage boys are being treated for impotence after
smoking cannabis for several years.

Doctors have reported a large rise in cases of young men seeking
advice to combat potential lifelong impotence.

They said most have a history of heavy cannabis abuse.

Experts are now calling for more research to be carried out into the
links between sexual dysfunction and the drug.

Anecdotal evidence already points towards its role in causing
impotence and in lowering testosterone and sexual desire.

Ian Russell, a specialist nurse practitioner in andrology and urology
at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary in Scotland, said:

"In my clinic I see youngsters from the age of 17 onwards with sexual
dysfunction. The age of onset of smoking cannabis is young,
ten-year-olds in some areas.

"Puberty's kicking in and they're smoking regularly - five, six joints a week.

"This can potentially suppress and traumatise the formation of leydig
cells, which secrete testosterone, in the testes.

"It means these kids, when they hit 14 or 15, will have sexual
problems; for instance, not being able to get an erection, and
possibly not have any sexual desire and a very, very low testosterone
level. "This is not healthy, let's put it that way."

Professor Sheena Lewis, one of the UK's leading experts on male
reproduction, said: "I don't know of anyone who has done research on
impotence and cannabis. It's about time someone did."

The research can to light as it emerged today that Gordon Brown has
decided to throw out the recommendation by a high-powered group of
government advisers who say cannabis should stay a "soft" drug.

The Prime Minister will instead take a hard line, sending a message
that drugs are dangerous to young people's health and heavily linked
to serious crime.

His stance was confirmed on the day that the Advisory Council on the
Misuse of Drugs was handing in an official report that is understood
to recommend that cannabis should remain in the lowest category of
illegal drugs, Class C.