CANNABIS AND THE COFFIN LID

Marijuana's long been held out by its users and the dealers who mint money
from it as being nothing less than an analgesic, albeit with technicolour
properties.

The free-choice no-damage arguments that they advance in their wrangling
with the anti-dope lobby, however, get a deserved drubbing in the otago
university research that shows dope smokers are exposed to the same perils
as those who smoke tobacco. Bronchitis, emphysema and lung cancer, for
starters. Or finishers, as the case may be.

The university ran its test over 943 people, all of whom were 21. The
cannabis smokers ought to be close to the prime of their lives. No dice.
More than 36% of them registered a change in lung function. Same old
problems - more morning coughing, wheezing during exercise, shortness of
breath, and double the amount of morning sputum.

The research ought to help families steer their youngsters away from the
coffin factory, but in the end will the figures make any difference?
Probably not. Dopey users and criminal suppliers will see to that.