TAKING CANNABIS `SAFER THAN ASPIRIN'

Cannabis is a safer drug than aspirin and can be used long-term without
serious side-effects, says a book by a leading Oxford scientist. The
Science of Marijuana, by Dr Leslie Iversen of Oxford University's
department of pharmacology, found many ``myths'' surrounding marijuana use,
such as extreme addictiveness, or links with mental illness or infertility,
are not supported by science.

He also found cannabis is an inherently ``safe drug'' and legalising it for
medical conditions should be considered, he says.

Dr Iversen's findings will increase pressure on the British Government to
reopen the debate about the decriminalisation of marijuana. The author, a
fellow of the prestigious Royal Society, found cannabis was far less toxic
than other drugs and had ``an impressive record'' compared with heroin,
cocaine or tobacco and alcohol.

His study showed that the active element of cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC), which made users high, had a lot of potential as a safe drug to
treat Aids patients and people suffering severe pain. He also found
``stoned'' drivers were less dangerous than drunk ones.

The book says ``alarming claims about long-term exposure to cannabis''
should be ``put to rest''.

Many adverse effects of cannabis are related to smoking the drug. But
cannabis itself did not appear to cause cancer. Compared with alcohol and
cigarettes, which led to more than 100,000 deaths a year, cannabis had a
far better record. ``Despite the widespread illicit use of cannabis, there
are very few if any instances of people dying from an overdose. Even such
apparently innocuous medicines as aspirin and related compounds are not
safe,'' he said.