Pubdate: Tue, 19 Dec 2000
Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
Copyright: 2000 The Sydney Morning Herald
Contact:  GPO Box 3771, Sydney NSW 2001
Fax: +61-(0)2-9282 3492
Website: http://www.smh.com.au/
Forum: http://forums.fairfax.com.au/
Author: Michael Dawson

SEX - IT'S A JOINT VENTURE

After years of bad press, at last there is a good news story about 
cannabis. Saturday's Herald (December 16) reported that THC, the active 
ingredient in cannabis, "alters the delicate system by which sperm and eggs 
interact".

According to researchers "two or three cones every couple of days could 
affect sperm counts". As well, it appears that THC reduces the ability of 
the sperm to penetrate the egg. These new findings should be pleasing news 
to a whole host of lobby groups and unite unlikely bedfellows such as the 
"anti-morning after pill" campaigner Senator Brian Harradine and "green 
activist" Senator Bob Brown.

Just imagine, a cone or two "before the event" would not only make the 
morning after pill redundant but would also significantly reduce the amount 
of used condoms that end up in landfills or down the toilet.

Dr Michael Dawson, Senior Lecturer Department of Chemistry, Materials and 
Forensic Science University of Technology, Sydney, Broadway, December 17.
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