Alasana,

Thanks for this piece. Marijuana use among youths in the Gambia is
increasing, as a last resort for their frustrations. I have many firends who
are into it. Let me hasten to add that i have never smoked ciggarettes or
marijuana myself. Many have the erroneous believe that 'jamba' cures a hosts
of diseases. I have always pointed out to them that it can cloud an
individual's judgement, among many other effects.

I will print this piece and mail it to them, so that they can read for
themselves. Seeing, as they say, is believing.

Saul.


>From: Alasana Bah <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Fwd: Marijuana may be greater cancer risk than tobacco,
>   research suggests
>Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2000 06:51:02 PDT
>
>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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