MARIJUANA SMOKING PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD

In the Health Canada news release announcing the provision of
marijuana for medical purposes, Health Minister Anne McLellan admits
that the effectiveness of marijuana therapy is unknown, but fails to
mention that adverse health effects of marijuana smoke inhalation have
already been demonstrated.

Marijuana smoke contains many of the same respiratory irritants and
carcinogens found in tobacco smoke -- many in higher
concentrations.

Will marijuana smokers be warned of both the known harmful effects and
the risk of further harmful effects that continue to be found as
research progresses? Will Health Canada be liable for the lung damage
that will be caused by breathing marijuana smoke, whether directly or
as second-hand smoke?

The Lung Association has seen all too many cases of lung disease
caused by tobacco and is working hard to reduce the carnage through
denormalization of tobacco use. It is ironic that although McLellan
claims to have taken this step for compassionate reasons, she has
begun the process of normalization of marijuana smoking, which has an
incredible potential for damage to the respiratory health of Canadians.

For those who can only achieve pain relief from marijuana use,
alternate pharmacological preparations of cannabis, which do not
inflict lung damage, which have been duly proven to be safe and
effective, and which are approved for medical use by prescription,
could be used instead.

The Lung Association regards marijuana smoking as a public health
hazard. Health Canada should not be supplying marijuana in a form that
will be inhaled into the lungs with dirty, irritating, toxic,
carcinogenic smoke. The minister of health should never condone
smoking of any substance.

Dr. Brian Graham,

Saskatoon

Graham is president and CEO of the Lung Association of
Saskatchewan.