MEDICINAL POT SMOKE DANGEROUS, MDS SAY

OTTAWA -- Marijuana smoke is dangerous, and the federal government
should not allow the use of pipes, joints or bongs (a type of pipe)
when it is taken for medicinal purposes, a doctors' group said
yesterday.

Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada said the government is being
irresponsible in distributing marijuana without proving that the
medical benefits outweigh the health risks.

The organization said it was raising the issue because the government
was not only permitting marijuana use by patients with terminal
illnesses but by those with chronic illnesses.

Diseases for which the drug has been used range from AIDS to epilepsy
to arthritis.

"Smoke is a very dirty drug-delivery system," PSC's Jim Walker said
at a news conference.

Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada said that marijuana contains
numerous cancer-causing agents and more tar than tobacco does.

The group added that marijuana is used differently than tobacco; more
smoke is inhaled and held longer in the lungs.

The group wants the new federal Health Minister, Anne McLellan, to
change Health Canada's policy. It said that marijuana can be
delivered through pills, patches, capsules and baked goods. The group
sent a plate of brownies -- without marijuana -- to Ms. McLellan.

"I hope as you enjoy the brownies, you can reflect on the
availability of safer forms of marijuana use," Atul Kapur, president
of the group, said in a letter to the minister.

"I am confident that once you have reviewed this issue, you will
share our view that providing marijuana [for smoking] to Canadian
patients and subjects in experimental trials is inappropriate."

Health Canada, which has been permitting marijuana to be grown in an
abandoned mine in Manitoba for use by persons who obtain special
permission on medical grounds, said it is looking for more
information on the benefits and the risks associated with marijuana.

"The intention of this is a compassionate measure," Health Canada
spokesman Andrew Swift said.

He said that Health Canada is giving access to marijuana to sick
people who feel that other drugs are not working.

"They and their doctors have both said that this is the avenue that
they want to pursue."

Glen Hillson of B.C.'s Persons with AIDS Society said that because of
a liver condition, he cannot ingest marijuana. He said that's why he
has fallen back on smoking it.

"It's not risk-free, but I don't know of any drug that is risk-free," he said.