Pubdate: Wed, 11 Jan 2012
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 The Vancouver Sun
Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Derek Abmap

SMOKING POT COULD AID LUNG CAPACITY

'Moderate' Use Not Damaging: Journal

Light to moderate marijuana smokers show no signs of lung damage, in 
contrast to cigarette smokers, according to results of a study 
conducted in the United States.

A report to be published today in the Journal of the American Medical 
Association shows that over a 20-year period, pot smokers generally 
did not experience a loss in lung functioning. Many had enhanced lung 
capacity, which one researcher involved in the study speculated might 
come from the common practice of holding one's breath after inhaling 
cannabis smoke to maximize its intoxicating effects.

On the other hand, cigarette smokers were found to have less capacity 
in the amount of air they could exhale, and also in the speed at 
which they could empty the air from their lungs.

The study included more than 5,000 people in the U.S., who were 
assessed between 1986 and 2006.

"Marijuana may have beneficial effects on pain control, appetite, 
mood and management of other chronic symptoms," researchers from the 
University of California, University of Alabama and North-western 
University said in a statement.

"Our findings suggest that occasional use of marijuana for these or 
other purposes may not be associated with adverse consequences on 
pulmonary function."

There was a decline in lung function found among pot smokers who were 
using the drug as frequently as 20 times a month, but the median 
usage rate among the marijuana smokers in this study was two to three 
times a month. Tobacco smokers in this study at the mid-range smoked 
eight to nine cigarettes a day.

Stefan Kertesz, a professor of medicine at the University of Alabama 
who contributed to the study, said the low amount of marijuana 
generally smoked by subjects in comparison to the tobacco quantities 
is likely "crucial" to the findings. He said it remains inconclusive 
whether the substances them-selves differ in how harmful they are to 
people's lungs.

"Tobacco smokers in this study are smoking what is really orders of 
magnitude more tobacco than marijuana smokers are smoking marijuana," he said.

Kertesz said the study did not address possible links between 
marijuana and fatal diseases such as lung cancer and cardiovascular 
disease, which have been found to result from tobacco smoking.

However, he said past research has not shown connections between 
marijuana and these diseases.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom