Cannabis could be deadly
May 05, 2003
THIRTY thousand Britons a year might eventually die from cannabis smoking, doctors claimed on May 1
THIRTY thousand Britons a year might eventually die from cannabis smoking, doctors claimed on May 1. They called for a battle against the drug to mirror that belatedly waged against tobacco, saying that it too could soon pose a major public health hazard.
Their warning, made in an editorial in the British Medical Journal, is the most high-profile attempt yet to alert authorities to public health difficulties that might result from an apparently more liberal attitude to the drug.
The authors, from Imperial College London and St Mary’s Hospital, London, argued that 120,000 deaths are caused among 13 million tobacco smokers each year, from cancers, respiratory disorders and heart and lung disease.
If the health effects were the same, the corresponding figure from 3.2 million cannabis smokers would be 30,000.
They conceded their extrapolation could be seen as scaremongering, but Professor John Henry, one of the authors, said the real message was that medical authorities must not be caught like they were by the results of tobacco consumption, which took 50 years of research before any concerted fight back started.
“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 illness and premature death, the potential effects of cannabis cannot be ignored.â€
Dr William Oldfield, a senior registrar at the hospital, said cannabis and nicotine had very different modes of inhalation, with cannabis smokers taking in larger volumes and holding smoke down far longer: “These could all contribute to illnesses of the heart and respiratory system, particularly as the chemicals in cannabis smoke are retained to a much higher degree.â€
The doctors argued that the level of active ingredient known as THC was much higher than 20 years ago.
It had a marked effect on heart and blood vessels and sudden deaths had been attributed to cannabis smoking.
Cannabis-based prescription medicines, in spray or lozenge form, are expected on the market soon, but there have been a number of warnings recently that many Britons do not understand the risks from cannabis.
The British Lung Foundation for instance said three joints a day might do as much damage as 20 cigarettes.
But there has been scepticism at such claims, including among anti-smoking campaigners. They say, for instance, that tobacco users tend to carry on smoking for far longer, whereas cannabis appears far less addictive. They also question the 3.2 million figure for cannabis use. This is the estimate for people who have used it in the last year. Regular use would be far smaller.
Guardian News Service
Their warning, made in an editorial in the British Medical Journal, is the most high-profile attempt yet to alert authorities to public health difficulties that might result from an apparently more liberal attitude to the drug.
The authors, from Imperial College London and St Mary’s Hospital, London, argued that 120,000 deaths are caused among 13 million tobacco smokers each year, from cancers, respiratory disorders and heart and lung disease.
If the health effects were the same, the corresponding figure from 3.2 million cannabis smokers would be 30,000.
They conceded their extrapolation could be seen as scaremongering, but Professor John Henry, one of the authors, said the real message was that medical authorities must not be caught like they were by the results of tobacco consumption, which took 50 years of research before any concerted fight back started.
“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 illness and premature death, the potential effects of cannabis cannot be ignored.â€
Dr William Oldfield, a senior registrar at the hospital, said cannabis and nicotine had very different modes of inhalation, with cannabis smokers taking in larger volumes and holding smoke down far longer: “These could all contribute to illnesses of the heart and respiratory system, particularly as the chemicals in cannabis smoke are retained to a much higher degree.â€
The doctors argued that the level of active ingredient known as THC was much higher than 20 years ago.
It had a marked effect on heart and blood vessels and sudden deaths had been attributed to cannabis smoking.
Cannabis-based prescription medicines, in spray or lozenge form, are expected on the market soon, but there have been a number of warnings recently that many Britons do not understand the risks from cannabis.
The British Lung Foundation for instance said three joints a day might do as much damage as 20 cigarettes.
But there has been scepticism at such claims, including among anti-smoking campaigners. They say, for instance, that tobacco users tend to carry on smoking for far longer, whereas cannabis appears far less addictive. They also question the 3.2 million figure for cannabis use. This is the estimate for people who have used it in the last year. Regular use would be far smaller.
Guardian News Service