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The White House doesn’t trust U.S. science, so it turns to New Zealand

Cannabis Blog

Two studies:

1. A major study by a pulmonologist who has studied marijuana for 30 years. Funded by the United States National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Drug Abuse. Largest study of its kind involving 2,240 people. Conclusion: No evidence of any association between marijuana and lung cancer, and even a suggestion of a protective effect
2. A tiny study by a relatively new research institute in New Zealand. A grand total of 79 patients studied for both marijuana and tobacco. Reported conclusion: greater risk of cancer from one joint a day of marijuana than a pack a day of tobacco.

Guess which one the White House likes. I haven't had access to read the second study (although I'm suspicious based on other flawed studies related to marijuana from the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand). But, of course, unless they can possibly explain the lack of bodies from marijuana smokers with cancer, the study of 79 people is pretty much worthless. Transform gets quoted in the BBC article, pointing out the potential problems related to the mix of tobacco and marijuana. On the other hand, nobody was mentioning the definitive Tashkin study, which is disturbing.

Drug WarRant @ January 31, 2008