STUDY LINKS POT TO CANCER, MUTATIONS

Marijuana smoke may damage human DNA, the genetic material that controls
cell functions, boosting the risk of cancer and birth defects, according to
a study to be released today.

The study, by the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, compared
the white blood cells of 17 young women who smoked two to three marijuana
cigarettes per day, and the cells of five of their babies, with those of an
equal number of nonsmoking women and their babies. The marijuana smokers'
cells had almost triple the amount of mutated or damaged DNA as those of the
nonsmokers. Such damage can interfere with cell growth and division and
increase the chances of cancer developing.

"It appears to be the chemicals in the smoke that cause the problem, not the
cannabinoids," which produce the users' "high," said Dr. Marinel Amenheuser,
the study's author.

Funding was provided by the federal government's National Institute on Drug
Abuse.

Other researchers and medical marijuana advocates, however, said the study's
findings don't amount to much.

"This is nothing new," said Dale Gieringer, California coordinator for the
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. "Of course,
marijuana smoke, like cigarette smoke, has burning compounds and there's
reason to believe they are carcinogenic. That's why we think marijuana
inhalers should be developed."

Dr. John Morgan, a professor of pharmacology at the City University of New
York Medical School, said that other research has failed to find any
conclusive link between marijuana use and cancer.

A study of almost 65,000 Kaiser Permanente members in San Francisco and
Oakland, for example, found virtually no higher incidence of cancer among
pot smokers.

The study's co-author, Dr. Stephen Sidney, cautioned, however, that cancer
tends to be more prevalent among older people and since widespread marijuana
use is a relatively recent phenomenon. cancer rates among the drug's
aficionados may rise with time.

No other research has found evidence of risks to marijuana smokers'
children, said Morgan, adding that the new study indicates only the
potential for such problems.

"There's nothing certain about it," acknowledged Ammenheuser. "This study
just shows the possibility of increased risk."

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett