Pubdate: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 Source: Globe and Mail (Canada) Copyright: 2000, The Globe and Mail Company Page: A9 Contact: http://www.globeandmail.ca/ Forum: http://forums.theglobeandmail.com/ Author: Andre Picard POT, TOBACCO SHARE HEALTH RISKS: STUDY Smoking three marijuana joints is equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes, and that means that pot smokers are at high risk of lung disease, a new study indicates. Researchers at Glasgow Royal Infirmary report in today's edition of the medical journal Thorax that regular smokers of cannabis are at risk of emphysema, a disease usually associated with heavy cigarette smoking. Dr. Martin Johnson, a lung specialist, said that the common perception is that cannabis is harmless. While cigarettes and joints contain similar levels of harmful substances, he said, pot smokers tend to favour long drags, which greatly increase the harmful effects of smoking. - --- MAP posted-by: Allan Wilkinson