XPost: rec.drugs.cannabis, uk.legal, uk.politics.drugs   
   XPost: uk.rec.drugs.cannabis   
   From: pxhxz@cadence.com   
      
   In article <79ptl1F1r3bo1U2@mid.individual.net> Dr John Watson <   
   rjohn@NOSPAM.hotpotmail.com> writes:   
   >'Cannabis alters human DNA' - new study   
      
   Ah, yes, yet another in vitro study that probably has little relevance in   
   vivo.   
      
   >Posted on 16/06/09   
   >University of Leicester   
   >   
   >A new study published by University of Leicester researchers has found   
   >"convincing evidence" that cannabis smoke damages DNA in ways that could   
   >potentially increase the risk of cancer development in humans.   
      
   Except for the fact that many people smoke and otherwise use cannabis, and   
   have for many years, and no increase in cancers in the cannabis-only using   
   population has yet been found by any validated study.   
      
   >Using a newly developed highly sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass   
   >spectrometry method, the University of Leicester scientists found clear   
   >indication that cannabis smoke damages DNA, under laboratory conditions.   
      
   note the "under laboratory conditions".   
      
   >The research was carried out by Rajinder Singh, Jatinderpal Sandhu,   
   >Balvinder Kaur, Tina Juren, William P. Steward, Dan Segerback and Peter B.   
   >Farmer from the Cancer Biomarkers and Prevention Group, Department of   
   >Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine and Karolinska Institute, Sweden.   
      
   Why does it not surprise me that this study is out of Sweden?   
      
   >There have been many studies on the toxicity of tobacco smoke.   
      
   And it was known for decades before those studies that tobacco use causes   
   cancer, emphysema, COPD, etc.  So far the only demonstrated disease caused   
   by cannabis use is an increased incidence of bronchitis, and only when smoked.   
      
   There was also a study that indicated that cannabis use could increase liver   
   damage in those who have Hepatatitis C, but I haven't seen a replication of   
   that study yet.   
      
   >Cannabis in contrast has not been so well studied. It is less   
   >combustible than tobacco and is often mixed with tobacco in use.   
      
   It is not often mixed with tobacco in the US.  From my understanding, the   
   mixing with tobacco is only widespread in Europe.   
      
   >clear indication that cannabis smoke damages DNA, under laboratory   
   >conditions.   
      
   Again, "under laboratory conditions".   
      
   >The researchers add that the ability of cannabis smoke to damage DNA has   
   >significant human health implications especially as users tend to inhale   
   >more deeply than cigarette smokers, which increases respiratory burden.   
   >"The smoking of 3-4 cannabis cigarettes a day is associated with the same   
   >degree of damage to bronchial mucus membranes as 20 or more tobacco   
   >cigarettes a day," the team adds.   
      
   But how many cannabis users actually smoke 3-4 cannabis cigarettes a day?   
      
   And the bronchial damage has a clear link to increased incidence of bronchitis   
   in cannabis smokers.  However, there is no current link to emphysema, COPD and   
   cancer (lung or other) in cannabis-only users.   
      
   >"These results provide evidence for the DNA damaging potential of cannabis   
   >smoke," the researchers conclude, "implying that the consumption of   
   >cannabis cigarettes may be detrimental to human health with the   
   >possibility to initiate cancer development."   
      
   Note that simple tap water can damage DNA under laboratory conditions.   
      
   So drinking tap water may be detrimental to human health with the possibility   
   to initiate cancer development.  I guess I'd better switch to drinking only   
   pure, charcoal-filtered vodka to preserve my precious bodily fluids...   
      
   -Pete Zakel   
    (phz@seeheader.nospam)   
      
   "When the government bureau's remedies do not match your problem, you modify   
    the problem, not the remedy."   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)