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Marijuana research gets funding boost

Stuff

Auckland, New Zealand Dec 21, 2004 -- The Medical Research Institute was given major Government grants yesterday – for two marijuana research studies.

MRINZ director Professor Richard Beasley applauded them as "the best way forward to determine the health risks of marijuana smoking in New Zealand."

In the one study, MRINZ will determine the role of marijuana smoking in causing lung cancer in young people.

Prof Beasley said this was important because of our high rates of lung cancer and of marijuana smoking.

The funding will allow the study, involving seven centres in New Zealand, to be completed next year.

The other study will investigate the effects of marijuana on the lung, particularly whether it causes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

The study will utilise the most advanced CT screening and respiratory technology available and compare the effects of marijuana smoking with that of tobacco smoking and non-smoking.

Prof Beasley said this should show how many cigarettes one marijuana joint is equivalent to, in terms of causing lung damage.

"This is important to allow smokers to assess the risks of marijuana use."

MRINZ is recruiting adults who have regularly smoked marijuana, but not tobacco, for more than 10 years and are calling for volunteers.

The grants came from the National Drug Policy Discretionary Fund.