Hi Folks,
Years back in the Gambia i used to hear from some of my friends who use to
do Marijuana that it was best to smoke it than cigarettes. The following
study proves that to be wrong. By the way i never smoked Majijuana and never
smokes cigareyyes either. Read on
God Bless and Peace Be Upon All
Alasana Bah


>(CNN) -- Smoking marijuana may be a greater cancer danger than smoking
>tobacco, a new study from the University of California at Los Angeles
>suggests.
>
>The research, conducted on mice, was published in the July issue of the
>Journal of Immunology. The UCLA researchers studied the effect of
>tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the major euphoriant in marijuana.
>
>They found that THC can promote tumor growth in mice by impairing the
>body's
>anti-tumor immunity system. Mice with normal immune systems had significant
>tumor growth when injected with both lung cancer cells and THC. However,
>the
>compound appeared to have no effect on mice whose immune systems were
>already
>compromised.
>
>While previous research had shown that THC can lower resistance to both
>bacterial and viral infections, this is the first time that THC’s
>possible
>tumor-promoting activity has been reported, according to the National
>Institute on Drug Abuse, a part of the National Institutes of Health.
>
>The UCLA scientists also found that the tar in marijuana smoke contains
>higher concentrations of substances called hydrocarbons than tar from
>tobacco
>smoke does. These hydrocarbons are a key factor in promoting human lung
>cancer.
>
>Because marijuana smoke deposits four times as much tar in the respiratory
>tract as a comparable amount of tobacco, the exposure to carcinogens is
>increased, the researchers wrote.
>
>"What we already know about marijuana smoke, coupled with our new finding
>that THC may encourage tumor growth, suggests that regular use of marijuana
>may increase the risk of respiratory-tract cancer and further studies will
>be
>needed to evaluate this possibility," Dr. Steven M. Dubinett, head of the
>research team that conducted the study, said in a statement.
>
>Smoking marijuana is illegal in the United States, though several states
>have
>laws allowing its use for medicinal purposes. A federal advisory panel last
>year acknowledged that marijuana can fight pain and nausea, and the drug is
>thought to ease symptoms of the eye disease glaucoma.
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>--
>
>RELATED STORIES:
>Hawaii governor signs medical marijuana bill
>June 14, 2000
>Maine sheriff proposes using seized pot for medicinal purposes
>May 12, 2000
>Federal officials bust huge marijuana smuggling ring
>April 13, 2000
>Teen-age drug use down, anti-drug group's survey finds
>November 22, 1999
>Medical marijuana grower slapped with stiff sentence
>August 7, 1999
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>--
>RELATED SITES:
>National Institute on Drug Abuse

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