cannabisnews.com: Cannabis Smoking Could Cause 30,000 Deaths a Year





Cannabis Smoking Could Cause 30,000 Deaths a Year
Posted by CN Staff on May 01, 2003 at 18:29:06 PT
By Jeremy Laurance
Source: Independent UK
Cannabis may be responsible for the deaths of 30,000 people a year if the ill-effects of smoking the drug are comparable to those of smoking tobacco, researchers say.With an estimated 3.2 million users of cannabis in the UK doctors have calculated the death toll based on the 120,000 deaths among the 13 million smokers of tobacco. Professor John Henry of Imperial College, London, and colleagues say in the British Medical Journal:
"Even if the number of deaths attributable to cannabis smoking turned out to be a fraction of the 30,000 we believe could be possible, cannabis smoking would still be described as a major health hazard. If we also add in the likely mental health burden to that of medical illnesses and premature death, the potential effects of cannabis cannot be ignored."The number of cannabis smokers is increasing and regular cannabis smoking is known to be associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia and depression. Although people smoke fewer cannabis cigarettes than tobacco cigarettes, the larger puff volume and deeper inhalation that characterises cannabis smoking means each cigarette is likely to be more damaging.The authors draw attention to the different ways in which tobacco and cannabis are treated. They write: "Prevention and cessation are the two principal strategies in the battle against tobacco. At present there is no battle against cannabis and no clear public health message."However, doubt was cast on the warning yesterday by anti-smoking charities who pointed out most cannabis smokers give the drug up in their 30s, but tobacco smoking goes on for decades because of the addictive nicotine.The Government's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs noted in a report published last year: "In general, cannabis users smoke fewer cigarettes per day than tobacco smokers and most give up in their 30s, so limiting the long-term exposure that we now know is the critical factor in cigarette-induced lung cancer". Complete Title: Cannabis Smoking Could Cause 30,000 Deaths a Year, Study ClaimsSource: Independent (UK)Author: Jeremy LaurancePubdate: May 01, 2003 Copyright: 2003 Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.Contact: letters independent.co.ukWebsite: http://www.independent.co.uk/ Related Articles & Web Site:Drugs Uncovered: Observer Special http://freedomtoexhale.com/dc.htmCannabis 'Could Kill 30,000 a Year' http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16141.shtmlCannabis May Become Aspirin of the 21st Century http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16007.shtmlCannabis a Medical Miracle - It's Official http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11254.shtml 
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on May 01, 2003 at 20:45:06 PT
BGreen
See your teeth! That's so funny thanks! I've looked in many horses mouths and that cracked me up!
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Comment #3 posted by BGreen on May 01, 2003 at 20:41:25 PT
That's right, FoM
This is medical quackery masquerading as legitimate research.Dr. Russo needs to write a LTE to the british medical journal and expose this trash and the trash can, which in this case is the british medical journal.I really am as healthy as a horse. Do you want to see my teeth? LOLThe Rev. Bud Green
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on May 01, 2003 at 20:31:49 PT
BGreen 
Instead of where's the beef we need to say where's the bodies! PS: Healthy as horse is really healthy!
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Comment #1 posted by BGreen on May 01, 2003 at 20:24:12 PT
This Got Published????
I might understand why this bogus "study" was published IF cannabis had ever killed ONE PERSON. There would be a statistically equivalent amount of dead people based on the number of known illegal cannabis users IF smoking cannabis was as harmful as tobacco.There are over 13 million cannabis smokers worldwide. There should be 120,000 dead tokers. Where are the bodies?Will legalization turn this harmless plant into a killer? Does keeping it illegal remove the harmful effects?Can these "researchers" show me ONE DEAD BODY CAUSED BY SMOKING CANNABIS?No?Please shut up. You don't have a clue what you're talking about.The Rev. Bud Green, 27 years a toker and healthy as a horse.
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