CAUTION URGED OVER CANNABIS

Professor Warns About Smoking

The dangers of cannabis smoking should not be overlooked through enthusiasm
to pursue the drug's medical applications, University of Otago researcher
Prof Paul Smith warns.

Prof Smith, of the University of Otago pharmacology and toxicology
department, gave a public talk in Dunedin this week on the potential medical
benefits and risks of cannabis and cannabinoids (cannabis-like substances).

His book on the latest scientific research into cannabis, Cannabis on the
Brain , was published last year.

More research was needed, but there were several potentially-promising
medical applications of cannabinoids, including stimulation of appetite in
terminally-ill patients and reduction of chronic pain, he said in an
interview.

However, cannabis smoking posed serious risks, not only of lung cancer, but
also of other damage to lung function.

He noted that a recently released parliamentary health committee report had
suggested pursuing medical applications.

He welcomed any resulting increased opportunities for scientific research.

Investigation should continue into developing alternative ways of taking
cannabinoids, which were safer than smoking.

Better medical outcomes could also be achieved by developing specialised
cannabinoid drugs, perhaps using synthesised substances, which targeted only
certain specific receptors in the body, and avoided unwanted side effects,
such as suppression of the immune system, he said.