Pubdate: Mon, 28 Apr 2008
Source: Daily Mail (UK)
Copyright: 2008 Associated Newspapers Ltd
Contact:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/108
Author: Maureen Culley
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

CANNABIS 'IS MAKING TEENAGERS IMPOTENT', SAY DOCTORS

Growing numbers of teenage boys are being treated for impotence after 
smoking cannabis for several years.

Doctors have reported a large rise in cases of young men seeking 
advice to combat potential lifelong impotence.

They said most have a history of heavy cannabis abuse.

Experts are now calling for more research to be carried out into the 
links between sexual dysfunction and the drug.

Anecdotal evidence already points towards its role in causing 
impotence and in lowering testosterone and sexual desire.

Ian Russell, a specialist nurse practitioner in andrology and urology 
at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary in Scotland, said:

"In my clinic I see youngsters from the age of 17 onwards with sexual 
dysfunction. The age of onset of smoking cannabis is young, 
ten-year-olds in some areas.

"Puberty's kicking in and they're smoking regularly - five, six joints a week.

"This can potentially suppress and traumatise the formation of leydig 
cells, which secrete testosterone, in the testes.

"It means these kids, when they hit 14 or 15, will have sexual 
problems; for instance, not being able to get an erection, and 
possibly not have any sexual desire and a very, very low testosterone 
level. "This is not healthy, let's put it that way."

Professor Sheena Lewis, one of the UK's leading experts on male 
reproduction, said: "I don't know of anyone who has done research on 
impotence and cannabis. It's about time someone did."

The research can to light as it emerged today that Gordon Brown has 
decided to throw out the recommendation by a high-powered group of 
government advisers who say cannabis should stay a "soft" drug.

The Prime Minister will instead take a hard line, sending a message 
that drugs are dangerous to young people's health and heavily linked 
to serious crime.

His stance was confirmed on the day that the Advisory Council on the 
Misuse of Drugs was handing in an official report that is understood 
to recommend that cannabis should remain in the lowest category of 
illegal drugs, Class C. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake