MALE POT SMOKERS PUT POTENCY AT RISK

A doctor researching at Queen's University is drawing international
attention with the results of his latest study on marijuana use and
male sexual performance.

Dr. Rany Shamloul, a 36 year-old expert in sexual medicine, is
conducting research at Queen's University on penis cell tissues'
response to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active chemical in marijuana.

"If the cells relax when exposed (to THC)," Dr. Shamloul explains,
"that's good for an erection. If they contract, it's bad."

In the first the phases of lab work, Shamloul said THC caused the cell
tissues to contract. The research in still in early phases, he said,
but it follows years of clinical observation at a sexual health clinic
in Ottawa.

Shamloul said men came to him with the same dilemma again and
again.

"Men who used marijuana very regularly when they were 15 and 16 are
coming in with erection difficulties by their late 20s, or early 30s."

This pattern inspired Shamloul to release a review of medical research
on marijuana and sexual dysfunction, looking at studies from 1970 to
the present day.

Formerly, Shamloul said the medical community's consensus was that
"(marijuana) only affected the psychology, the libido." This consensus
was based on older studies that proved flawed in his review, because
they were non-standardized and used a small number [of] subjects.

Shamloul is now planning to continue his lab work between Ottawa and
Queen's.

Dr. Michael Adams, a professor and interim head in the department of
biochemical and molecular science, is guiding Shamloul in his on-going
research.

Shamloul and Adams both note a high level of public interest in the
study. Shamloul said he's been interviewed for Men's Health Canada
magazine, a radio news show in Vancouver, the International Society
Against Drug Addiction in Sweden, and LiveScience.com in the past two
weeks.

Adams agrees that "pot is a topical subject."

"The public just wants to know, 'Is it okay?'" he said.

Understanding the potential side effects of any drug is important,
Adams said, "from from a folk remedy to a naturopathic cure," to
conventional pharmaceuticals.

"All drugs have side effects ... There are some cholesterol
medications available that have a similar effect on a male erection,"
he said.

"The bottom line is the public needs to understand all the health
implications. Drugs are drugs. They all need to be rigourously tested."

Shamloul said he thinks this early publicity around his research might
inspire recreational marijuana users to learn more possible side
effects, and Adams adds that the university tries to be accessible for
people who want to know more.

"I hope the public would always look to (the university) for some
comment," he said.

Shamloul also contributes to an online research forum run by the
Sexual Medical Society of North America (SexHealthMatters.org) which
he said has an entire section dedicated [to] public education.

"This is an excellent resource for any questions about sexual health,
for men and for women," he said.