MARIJUANA SMOKING FAR MORE HARMFUL THAN BOOSTERS CLAIM

In the continuing debate about the possible legalization of pot, one
obvious point tends to be conveniently ignored, namely that marijuana
is far from harmless.

Puffing on a joint may not be as risky as ingesting crack cocaine,
crystal meth or heroin. But frequent pot use can cause serious damage
nevertheless. And the drug is not the pristine sacrament that B.C. bud
zealots would have impressionable youngsters believe it to be.

Research published in France yesterday has found that smoking three
cannabis (marijuana) joints will cause one to inhale the same amount
of toxic chemicals as a whole packet of cigarettes.

The French National Consumers' Institute study concluded that cannabis
smoke contains seven times more tar and carbon monoxide: "Smoking
three joints every day -- which is becoming frequent -- makes you run
the same risks of cancer or cardio-vascular diseases as smoking a
packet of cigarettes."

But while tobacco smoking continues to draw intense heat from
politicians and health activists, marijuana use continues virtually
unchecked -- and un-criticized.

This is despite the fact that several recent studies have shown links
between marijuana and schizophrenia.

Not that it pays to be unduly alarmist.

However, when it comes to the consumption of potentially harmful
drugs, it helps if the discussion is grounded in more than a puff or
two of wishful thinking.