POT, CIG WOES SIMILAR - STUDY

TORONTO -- Smoking marijuana can cause the same health problems as smoking
cigarettes, a new study shows. The study found that smoking marijuana can
lead to increased risk of chronic bronchitis, phlegm production, wheezing,
shortness of breath, reduced lung function, coughing on most days and chest
sounds without actually having a cold.

Marijuana smoking may also increase the risk of respiratory exposure by
infectious organisms, such as fungi and moulds, since cannabis plants are
contaminated with a range of fungal spores.

"It is suggested that marijuana used in the smoking form is not a harmless
activity.

"And it suggests if there is an increase the use of marijuana, there will
be an increase in respiratory problems similar to tobacco smokers as
marijuana smokers age," said lead author Dr. Brent A. Moore, assistant
professor of psychiatry at Yale University's School of Medicine.

"People in the health field should ask their patients about marijuana use
as well as tobacco use because it's important to be aware of respiratory
problems associated with it," Moore said.

The findings were based on 6,728 questionnaires which were completed by
adult men and women, 20 to 59 years old, in 1988 and 1994.

The data was from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

It was thought to provide the broadest snapshot to date of marijuana use
and its effect on the lungs.

Current marijuana use was defined as self-reported lifetime use and at
least one day in the prior month.

Seventy-seven per cent of marijuana smokers also smoked tobacco.

Individuals who smoked both marijuana and tobacco had increased rates of
respiratory symptoms compared with those in the study who smoked only tobacco.

The study is published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.