CANNABIS OBVIOUS THREAT TO HEALTH, AGENCY SAYS

GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization insisted yesterday that
cannabis is a public health threat.

"It is obvious that the use of cannabis causes a number of health problems
and that an increase in its use would make the situation worse," a WHO
statement said.

It was defending itself against accusations that it suppressed a report
that found cannabis safer than alcohol or tobacco.

Britain's New Scientist magazine said Wednesday that WHO officials in
Geneva suppressed a comparison study of cannabis and legal substances
because they feared it would give ammunition to the "legalize marijuana"
campaign.

Instead, WHO said it dropped the analysis because it contained
contradictions and "conclusions were not scientifically sound."

Tokuo Yoshida, in charge of narcotic drugs at the WHO, said cannabis is
dangerous to health because it causes mind-altering activities in users.

"Cannabis is milder than LSD, of course," he said. "But it must not be
used because it changes your judgement and thinking."

According to New Scientist, which published a special report on marijuana
Wednesday, a leaked document about the analysis concluded that the drug
posed less of a public health threat than alcohol or cigarettes, even if
people consumed it on the same
scale.

The magazine said researchers had found marijuana smoke did not lead to
blocked airways or emphysema or impact on lung function and it was less
addictive than alcohol or cigarettes.