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| Health risks of cannabis 'underestimated', experts warn | Health risks of cannabis 'underestimated', experts warn |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Experts are warning that the public dangerously underestimates the health risks linked to smoking cannabis. | Experts are warning that the public dangerously underestimates the health risks linked to smoking cannabis. |
| The British Lung Foundation carried out a survey of 1,000 adults and found a third wrongly believed cannabis did not harm health. | The British Lung Foundation carried out a survey of 1,000 adults and found a third wrongly believed cannabis did not harm health. |
| And 88% incorrectly thought tobacco cigarettes were more harmful than cannabis ones - when the risk of lung cancer is actually 20 times higher. | And 88% incorrectly thought tobacco cigarettes were more harmful than cannabis ones - when the risk of lung cancer is actually 20 times higher. |
| The BLF said the lack of awareness was "alarming". | The BLF said the lack of awareness was "alarming". |
| Widely used | Widely used |
| Latest figures show that 30% of 16-59 year-olds in England and Wales have used cannabis in their lifetimes. | Latest figures show that 30% of 16-59 year-olds in England and Wales have used cannabis in their lifetimes. |
| A new report from the BLF says there are established scientific links between smoking cannabis and tuberculosis, acute bronchitis and lung cancer. | A new report from the BLF says there are established scientific links between smoking cannabis and tuberculosis, acute bronchitis and lung cancer. |
| Part of the reason for this, say the experts, is that people smoking cannabis take deeper puffs and hold them for longer than when smoking tobacco cigarettes. | Part of the reason for this, say the experts, is that people smoking cannabis take deeper puffs and hold them for longer than when smoking tobacco cigarettes. |
| This means that someone smoking a cannabis cigarette inhales four times as much tar as from a tobacco cigarette, and five times as much carbon monoxide, the BLF says. | This means that someone smoking a cannabis cigarette inhales four times as much tar as from a tobacco cigarette, and five times as much carbon monoxide, the BLF says. |
| Its survey found that young people are particularly unaware of the risks. | Its survey found that young people are particularly unaware of the risks. |
| Some studies have also suggested cannabis increases the chances of developing mental health problems such as schizophrenia. | |
| Almost 40% of the under-35s surveyed - the age group most likely to have smoked it - thought cannabis was not harmful. | Almost 40% of the under-35s surveyed - the age group most likely to have smoked it - thought cannabis was not harmful. |
| However, regular cannabis smoking increases the chances of developing lung cancer by as much as an entire packet of 20 tobacco cigarettes, the BLF warned. | |
| Its chief executive, Dame Helena Shovelton, said: "It is alarming that, while new research continues to reveal the multiple health consequences of smoking cannabis, there is still a dangerous lack of public awareness of quite how harmful this drug can be. | Its chief executive, Dame Helena Shovelton, said: "It is alarming that, while new research continues to reveal the multiple health consequences of smoking cannabis, there is still a dangerous lack of public awareness of quite how harmful this drug can be. |
| "This is not a niche problem - cannabis is one of the most widely-used recreational drugs in the UK, with almost a third of the population having tried it. | "This is not a niche problem - cannabis is one of the most widely-used recreational drugs in the UK, with almost a third of the population having tried it. |
| "We therefore need a serious public health campaign - of the kind that has helped raise awareness of the dangers of eating fatty foods or smoking tobacco - to finally dispel the myth that smoking cannabis is somehow a safe pastime." | "We therefore need a serious public health campaign - of the kind that has helped raise awareness of the dangers of eating fatty foods or smoking tobacco - to finally dispel the myth that smoking cannabis is somehow a safe pastime." |
| The BLF's report says there should be a public education programme to raise awareness of the impact of smoking cannabis and increased investment in research into the health consequences of its use. | The BLF's report says there should be a public education programme to raise awareness of the impact of smoking cannabis and increased investment in research into the health consequences of its use. |