Cannabis 'Could Kill 30,000 a Year'

[superjoint]

By David Derbyshire
Source: Daily Telegraph UK

Cannabis could be a "major health hazard" that kills up to 30,000 people every year in Britain, doctors report today. Although the long-term health risks are poorly understood, researchers believe that the drug could be placing a huge burden on society.
The estimated death toll, which appears in a paper in the British Medical Journal, is based on the known risks of cigarette smoking and assumes that cannabis causes as much harm.

Although cannabis cigarettes are smoked less frequently than tobacco ones, smokers often inhale much deeper and for longer.

Prof John Henry, a specialist in accident and emergency medicine at Imperial College, London, said: "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."

Prof Henry and his colleagues argued that if 120,000 deaths are caused among 13 million smokers each year, the corresponding figure among the estimated 3.5 million cannabis smokers would be 30,000 - assuming the health effects were the same.

The level of the active ingredient in cannabis, THC, has increased from an average of 0.5 per cent 20 years ago to almost five per cent today, the doctors said. THC has marked effects on the heart and blood vessels.

The report points out that regular use of cannabis is associated with a higher risk of mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and depression. It also causes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and there were reports of lung, tongue, and other cancers in cannabis users.

Source: Daily Telegraph (UK)
Author: David Derbyshire
Published: Friday, May 02, 2003
Copyright: 2003 Telegraph Group Limited
Contact: dtletters@telegraph.co.uk
Website: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

[Digit]

Originally posted by superjoint
By David Derbyshire
Source: Daily Telegraph UK

.............based on the known risks of cigarette smoking and assumes that cannabis causes as much harm. .................................................. .


Source: Daily Telegraph (UK)
Author: David Derbyshire

u-huh.


friggin rediculous.

and to think that there will be people out there who know nothing about cannabis reading that taking it as truth and scripture.

bloody tabloid torrie newspapers really piss me off.

did they consider how many people die from all the legal substances currently available?



and the bit that says:
"The level of the active ingredient in cannabis, THC, has increased from an average of 0.5 per cent 20 years ago to almost five per cent today, the doctors said. THC has marked effects on the heart and blood vessels."


hahahahahahahahahahaha! GOOD! that means it will take far lees smoke to get high so people will be smoking less. ever heard of auto-titration? ha! no i didnt think so.

[Mike Oxlong]

y cant they ever just perform an accurate test

[Digit]

because "they" dont want to be accurate... tehy just want to try to show pot of as being bad for us and dangerous.

[ubik]

"Cannabis could kill 30 000 a year" ??????

What the fuck!!!!!!!???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alcohol, tobacco, cars, guns, medication (legal), KILL millions of people a year!

In swizerland:
Alcohol 5 000 a year
Tobacco 2500 a year
Cannbais 0 per decade (or millenia)

In finland: (population 5.7 million)
Alcohol 3000 a year
Tobacco 500 a year
Cannabis 0 for the time of existence of this country

etc.

"Prof Henry and his colleagues argued that if 120,000 deaths are caused among 13 million smokers each year, the corresponding figure among the estimated 3.5 million cannabis smokers would be 30,000 - assuming the health effects were the same."

And where has they got this figures? is it deaths Because of marijuana or just deaths among marijuana users (caused by anything) well to get things staright Life kills everyone so should we make life illegal? plus the air of todays world is a major health hazard so should we criminalize breathing? Cars kill some 1 000 000 people a year and they are legal, infact people are ancouraged to buy automoblies. Guns are the biggest "health hazard" there is and still they're the biggest business in the world.