COMPARING CANNABIS WITH TOBACCO - AGAIN

Link Between Cannabis And Death Still Not Established

Although the use of cannabis is not harmless, its link with death is still
not established, argues a senior researcher in this week's BMJ.

Two large studies reported no increase in death associated with the use of
cannabis. Even diseases that might be related to long term cannabis use are
unlikely to have a sizeable public health impact because, unlike users of
tobacco and alcohol, most people who try cannabis quit relatively early in
their adult lives, writes the author.

Exposure to smoke is generally much lower in cannabis than in tobacco
cigarette smokers, even taking into account the larger exposure per puff.
Existing studies do not support a link between the use of cannabis and
heart disease, the leading cause of death in many Western countries, he
adds. Furthermore, cannabis does not contain nicotine, a chemical contained
in tobacco that is addicting and contributes to the risk of heart disease.

However, two caveats must be noted regarding available data, warns the
author. Firstly, the studies to date have not followed cannabis smokers
into later adult life so it might be too early to detect an increase risk
of chronic diseases that are potentially associated with the use of cannabis.

Secondly, the low rate of regular cannabis use and the high rate of
discontinuation during young adulthood may reflect the illegality and
social disapproval of the use of cannabis. This means that we cannot assume
that smoking cannabis would continue to have the same small impact on
mortality if its use were to be decriminalised or legalised.

While the use of cannabis is not harmless, our current knowledge does not
support the assertion that it has an adverse impact on death rates, says
the author. Common sense should dictate measures to minimise adverse
effects. These include discouraging use by teenagers, not using when
driving or operating heavy machinery, not using excessively, and cautioning
people with known coronary heart disease.