WHO SAYS POT'S NOT DANGEROUS

Editor, The News:

In his letter of May 8, Alan Kidd of Abbotsford states "Marijuana is
absolutely not a dangerous drug!''

Where did this information come from? His friends who occasionally use this
drug told him so.

He also noted that a statement from a U.S. National Drug Policy director's
interview "can hardly be seen as objective, given the source."

It would seem that a statement about drugs from a drug research and policy
centre concerned about a nation's health would be more objective than a
comment from friends who are current "pot" users.

A report from the British Lung Foundation review of previous research
highlights "that just three marijuana joints a day causes the same damage
to the lung's airways as 20 cigarettes, mainly because of the way joints
are smoked.''

The amount of smoke taken into the lungs from marijuana is two thirds
larger than tobacco and taken one third deeper, smoke is held an average of
four times longer before being exhaled.

Other points in the report include: Tar from cannabis cigarettes contains
up to 50 percent higher concentrations of carcinogens benzathracenes and
benzpyrenes than tobacco smoke.

THC decreases the function of the immune system cells that help protect the
lungs from infection.The modern cannabis smoker may be exposed to greater
doses of THC than in the 1960s and 70s.

In Jon Ferry's column, in the Province of Sunday, May 4, he refers to an
article in the British Medical Journal that indicates "the ill-effects of
smoking marijuana are comparable to those of smoking tobacco.''

Prof. John Henry and two other research doctors at St.Mary's Hospital,
London point out that marijuana cigarettes may be smoked less frequently
than nicotine cigarettes, but they are inhaled much more deeply. The
researches suggest that marijuana might be responsible for the death of
30,000 people a year in the U.K.

Even if the number of deaths attributable to cannabis turned out to be a
fraction of that figure, they say "smoking cannabis would still be a major
health hazard."

Ferry also states: "Nowadays our progressive leaders ostracize tobacco
smokers and vilify those involved in the tobacco industry. Yet they remain
afraid to condemn those who drive our children to pot"

Our children need the wisdom, guidance and support of all caring adults in
ensuring the dangerous drug marijuana does not become more easily accessible.

Eric Myrholm

Abbotsford