[JTN]

One mitigating factor left out of the article is the fact that the average marijuana smoker will smoke far less than the average tobacco smoker.

Some of the anti-pot propaganda has been to claim that marijuana is actually more likely to cause cancer than cigarettes. Perhaps this study will help put that to rest.

[JTN]

ping

[KarinG1]

Yeah, but what about the gunshot wounds? I've seen the movie 'Reefer Madness' more than once, so I am well aware of exactly how dangerous this drug really is.

[libertyman]

You're right--I used to be a tobacco addict, & I quit almost 3 yrs ago (THANK GOD!). When I smoked cigarettes, I averaged about 25 cigarettes a day...& if 2 hours went by & I didn't light up again, my body wouldn't let me ignore the suffering I went through, either.

On the other hand, I enjoy smoking marijuana, & when I do, I will smoke about 1/2 a joint, just enough to get a decent buzz. I'll put it out & smoke the rest of it much later, oftentimes the next day. No addiction, no fuss.

[Rome2000]

This is pro druggie propaganda BS.

Smokers who get lung cancer usually smoke for at least 20 years a pack a day.

Nobody can smoke that much pot and still function.

[libertyman]

ping

[binreadin]

This article is very misleading and a good example of why a lot of these so called Public Health articles are BS. I work in this field, and I can tell you anecdotally at least (and we are talking thousands of cases I've reviewed) that although pot smokers don't seem to have an increased risk of lung cancer, they do seem to have very high rates of head and neck cancers. These cases usually involve men in their 40s-60s, and most of the ones I've seen also smoke tobacco. Also, epidemiologically speaking they do not have a method in the cancer case reporting programs to record whether or not a person smokes pot. We do collect tobacco and alcohol information, and in the military and VA hospitals Agent orange, Asbestos and Chemical Exposure information is collected as well. THERE IS NO ONE on a national, sustained basis collecting information on mariuuana smokers and cancer.

[pageonetoo]

click for link..

The U.S. federal government spent over $19 billion dollars in 2003 on the War on Drugs, at a rate of about $600 per second. The budget has since been increased by over a billion dollars.

In 2002, 45.3 percent of the 1,538,813 total arrests for drug abuse violations were for marijuana -- a total of 697,082. Of those, 613,986 people were arrested for marijuana possession alone. This is a slight decrease from 2000, when a total of 734,497 Americans were arrested for marijuana offenses, of which 646,042 were for possession alone.

[pageonetoo]

In 2004, 44.2 percent of the 1,745,712 total arrests in the US for
drug abuse violations were for marijuana -- a total of 771,605.
Of those, 684,319 people were arrested for possession alone.
By contrast in 2000, a total of 734,497 Americans were arrested for
marijuana offenses, of which 646,042 were for possession alone.

Marijuana Arrests and Total Drug Arrests in the US
Year Total Drug Arrests Total MJ Arrests
2004 1,745,712 771,605
2003 1,678,192 755,186
2002 1,538,813 697,082
2001 1,586,902 723,628
2000 1,579,566 734,497
1999 1,532,200 704,812
1998 1,559,100 682,885
1997 1,583,600 695,201
1996 1,506,200 641,642
1995 1,476,100 588,964
1990 1,089,500 326,850
1980 580,900 401,982

Year MJ Trafficking/Sale Arrests MJ Possession Arrests
2004 87,286 684,319
2003 92,300 662,886
2002 83,096 613,986
2001 82,519 641,109
2000 88,455 646,042
1999 84,271 620,541
1998 84,191 598,694
1997 88,682 606,519
1996 94,891 546,751
1995 85,614 503,350
1990 66,460 260,390
1980 63,318 338,664

Year Total Violent Crime Arrests Total Property Crime Arrests
2004 590,258 1,649,825
2003 597,026 1,605,127
2002 620,510 1,613,954
2001 627,132 1,618,465
2000 625,132 1,620,928
1999 644,770 1,676,100
1998 675,900 1,805,600
1997 717,750 2,015,600
1996 729,900 2,045,600
1995 796,250 2,128,600

Sources: Crime in the United States: FBI Uniform Crime Reports 2004
(Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 2005),

[robertpaulsen]

A few facts to put things in perspective:

Dr. Robert Melamede is an anti-WOD activist and actually teaches a course on medical marijuana at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs.

"Dr. Robert Melamede, former chairman of the biology department at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, said he's smoked marijuana for 41 years."
-- hightimes.com

(Most people quit in their 30's. Grow up, doctor.)

By the way, the Editor-in-Chief of Harm Reduction Journal, Professor Ernest Drucker, PhD, is a senior Soros Justice Fellow.

[Age of Reason]

qualities of marijuana seem to keep it from promoting lung cancer, according to a new report

Wow!

I wonder if people who quit cigarettes might lower their chance of getting lung cancer from the years they smoked tobacco, by smoking marijuana after they quit cigarettes.

I also wonder if they put marijuana in cigarettes along with tobacco, if that also might lower the chance of tobacco smokers getting lung cancer?

[Moonman62]

He reviewed the scientific evidence supporting this contention in a recent issue of Harm Reduction Journal.

Harm Reduction Journal, never heard of it, except the other dozen variations of this article already posted on FR.

[winston2]

(from article)Whereas nicotine has several effects that promote lung and other types of cancer, THC acts in ways that counter the cancer-causing chemicals in marijuana smoke, Melamede explained in an interview with Reuters Health.

"THC turns down the carcinogenic potential," he said.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Cool information! I'm feeling better already.

[Dustbunny]

Pot not a major cancer risk: report

Of course it isn't although the term 'Pot Head' because of constant use does come to mind.