CANNABIS `BAD AS TOBACCO'

Smoking cannabis is as bad for your health as smoking tobacco, a major
study carried out in Dunedin shows.

The study of 943 people, the first of its type in this country, showed
long-term cannabis smoking is likely to produce similar health problems to
tobacco smoking, including chronic bronchitis, emphysema and lung cancer.

Health effects from smoking cannabis were noticeable even after only a few
years' use, Associate Prof Robin Taylor, who headed the research project,
said yesterday.

"This is information people need to know. There is a myth that smoking
cannabis is cool but smoking tobacco is dirty, but both are dirty when it
comes to their effects on your health."

Prof Taylor's Respiratory Research Group at the University of Otago's
Multidisciplinary Health and Development Unit has been looking at all
aspects of the health of a group of people since they were born. Members of
the group are now aged 26 and were most recently surveyed last year.

Prof Taylor told the Otago Daily Times researchers were discussing the
current Government sub-committee investigation into whether cannabis should
be decriminalised in New Zealand and knew they had asked questions about
cannabis smoking in their surveys.

They decided to analyse the 1994-95 data collected when the group was 21,
as last year's data was not complete.

Prof Taylor said 28% of the study group member were tobacco smokers, 52%
had used cannabis during the previous year and 9.7% were classified as
cannabis dependent. That meant they smoked cannabis regularly - an average
of five times a week - and structured their lifestyle to be able to buy and
smoke the illegal drug.

"Wheezing, shortness of breath during exercise, and, most notably,
early-morning coughing and sputum production were up to two and a-half
times more frequent in cannabis-dependent subjects compared to non-smokers.

"Mild changes in lung function occurred in 20% of non-smokers due to
asthma, whereas the figure for cannabis-dependent subjects was 36%. That
outcome was similar to tobacco smokers smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day."

Prof Taylor said it was "striking" that the health effects of cannabis
smoking were noticeable in 21-year-olds who had had a relatively brief
exposure to the drug.

The study led researchers to "strongly endorse" warnings by the Asthma and
Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand against both tobacco and marijuana
smoking, Prof Taylor said.

The foundation would be making a submission against the decriminalisation
of cannabis, based on the study.

Prof Taylor said he also hoped the Government would take note of the study.

"The Government has a good track record on smoke-free legislation. In my
opinion, it would be peculiar if they did not consider the health effects
of cannabis in their deliberations on whether to decriminalise it or not."