CANNABIS CAMPAIGN QUESTION AND ANSWER

Q: Is cannabis more damaging to the lungs than tobacco?

A: The BMA has stressed that cannabis smokers are at a high risk of
developing lung cancer, bronchitis and emphysema. However, research
suggests that moderate smoking of cannabis appears to pose minimal danger
to the lungs. Like tobacco smoke, cannabis smoke contains a number of
irritants and carcinogens. But marijuana users typically smoke much less
often than tobacco smokers, and inhale less smoke.

There have been no reports of lung cancer related solely to cannabis.
However, because researchers have found precancerous changes in cells
taken from the lungs of heavy cannabis smokers, the possibility of lung
cancer from cannabis cannot be ruled out.

Unlike heavy tobacco users, heavy cannabis smokers exhibit no obstruction
of the lungs' air ways, indicating that people will not develop emphysema
from cannabis.

Taken from 'Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts', by Professors Lynn Zimmer
and John P Morgan, published by the Lindesmith Centre, New York, and
available from Compendium Books at £12.99.