WHO REPORT RECOGNIZES MARIJUANA'S HEALTH HAZARDS

In his letter about marijuana, Don't hold your breath waiting for it
to be legalized (March 18), Craig Jones cited, others, the 1997 report
of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Jones writes that in its report, "Cannabis: A Health Perspective And
Research Agenda," the WHO had come to the conclusion that, "Weighed in the
balance with other legal drugs, there is no compelling public reason to
prohibit marijuana."

The report also contains the following summarizing
statement:

"Frequently, the risks of cannabis use are compared with those of
other drugs such as alcohol and tobacco. However, the science to
evaluate health risks of cannabis is much less extensive and much less
conclusive than the voluminous research that has been conducted on
these psychoactive substances. In addition, there is insufficient
research on cannabis-related mortality from accidents and other causes
to permit proper comparison."

Having identified what it could not say, the WHO then included the
following conclusions in it [sic] summary:

* "The chronic use of cannabis produces additional health hazards
including: a selective impairment of cognitive functioning ... ;
prolonged use may lead to greater impairment, which may not recover
with cessation of use, and which could affect daily life functions."

* "Cannabis use can exacerbate schizophrenia in affected
individuals."

* "Airway injury, lung inflammation, and impaired pulmonary defence
against infection (results) from persistent cannabis consumption over
long periods of time."

* "Cannabis use during pregnancy is associated with impairment of
fetal development leading to a reduction in birth weight."

* "Cannabis use during pregnancy may lead to postnatal risk of rare
forms of cancer although more research is needed in this area."

Jones states that, "If the issue could be settled on the basis of
science of public health, Canada would have decriminalized (marijuana)
in the early 1970s." The fact is unless one wishes to either ignore or
impugn the WHO, then based on science and public health (cited above),
marijuana would be prohibited, not decriminalized.

Ronald M Clavier, M.D. Council on Drug Abuse Toronto