JOINTS HAVE MORE CANCER AGENTS THAN CIGARETTES SHOWS STUDY

Tar from cannabis joints contains 50 per cent more cancer-causing agents
than cigarettes, research has found.

The study, carried out by the British Lung Foundation, has reached the same
conclusion as a Dunedin investigation, which found that, overall, smoking
cannabis was as dangerous as smoking cigarettes.

Researchers in the British study found the airways of tobacco and cannabis
smokers were affected similarly by tar. The effect on smokers who used
tobacco and cannabis together was greater than when the drugs were smoked
separately.

The study, called "A Smoking Gun?", said three joints a day caused the same
damage to the lining of the airways as 20 cigarettes.

Further, the research said that the health dangers of cannabis had
substantially increased since the 1960s because of increased amounts of THC
(tetrahydrocannabinol), the ingredient that accounts for the psychoactive
properties in the plant, in modern crops.

An Australian study found last month that more powerful cannabis and its
long-term use were linked to impaired frontal brain functioning, which
interfered with attention, memory and concentration.

Dr Mark Britton, chairman of the British Lung Foundation, predicted the
findings would be a surprise to people "who choose to smoke cannabis rather
than tobacco in the belief it is safer for them".

"It is vital that people are fully aware of the dangers so they can make an
educated decision and know the damage they may be causing," he said.

"The report is not about the moral rights and wrongs of cannabis, but
simply making sure everyone is completely clear about the respiratory
health risks involved."

Dr Tricia Briscoe, deputy chairwoman of the New Zealand Medical Council,
said doctors had long been concerned about the risks of smoking cannabis
and it was valuable to be getting more hard data.

"It's useful that we are getting some good research to help demonstrate the
different risk associated with cannabis use."

But Green MP Nandor Tanczos, who is poised to introduce a private member's
bill that would allow adults to grow a small amount of cannabis for
personal use, said reform advocates had long known that "smoking anything
is likely to cause lung damage".

He said news that cannabis tar contained more cancer-causing agents than
tobacco lent weight to the decriminalisation call.

"This [news] makes it even more important that we change the law ... Many
people use cannabis and will continue to do so, but it is illegal to do
anything to allow those people to use it in a safer way, such as with
vaporizers, water filters or eating it."