30,000 Pot Users To Die Annually, UK Docs Say

According to this article in the Guardian, which quotes an editorial in the British Medical Journal,

Thirty thousand Britons a year might eventually die from cannabis smoking, doctors claimed.

In other news, the physicians insisted that the sky might eventually turn green with purple polka dots, and also that they'll soon achieve cold fusion using only an umbrella and a two-pound bratwurst.

That 30,000 Brits could die from pot every year year flies in the face of everything that's known about cannabis. The correct number is more likely close to zero, if the U.S. is any guide. And no, my source isn't Tommy Chong; it's the Centers for Disease Control. In a study that categorizes and tallies every single death in the United States over a twenty-year period (1979-1998), the CDC found a grand total of 23 fatalities attributable to cannabis — that's 1.15 deaths a year.

Never one to paint too rosy a picture, I must confess that 2001 saw a scary spike of some 260 percent. You see, that was the year U.S. health authorities had to deal with an almost epidemic three marijuana deaths — although upon closer inspection, one turned out to be misclassified, and the other two fatalities were blamed on pot because there was nothing else to blame them on.

Even the 23 pot victims the CDC found over the 20-year period seem iffy, cause-of-death-wise. After all, marijuana itself is so supremely non-toxic you'd have to smoke tens of thousands of joints in a few hours to get a fatal overdose. But I'll be charitable for a change and accept the CDC finding of a little over one marijuana-induced death per year (although I can't help pointing out that every year, 300 times that many Americans drown in their tubs; oddly, I have yet to hear a single politician declare a War on Bathtubs).

Anyway, how did the British physicians come up with 30,000 annual pot deaths, a number that exceeds even the wildest, most reckless fabulations of America's drug czars? Simple: It's a lame extrapolation of tobacco data.

The authors, from Imperial College London and St Mary's hospital, London, argued that 120,000 deaths are caused among 13 million tobacco smokers each year, from cancers, respiratory disorders and heart and lung disease. If the health effects were the same, the corresponding figure from 3.2 million cannabis smokers would be 30,000.

It's true that smoking a joint means inhaling tobacco — and that unlike cannabis, tobacco is undeniably bad for your health. The solution is simple. I'm waiting for the good doctors to recommend that from now on, cannabis users only inhale hashish through a little pipe, which cuts out the need for tobacco. There: Deaths down to zero, everybody happy. (Well, maybe not everybody. These very same concerned docs, who are obviously very creative, will then point out that pot use causes the munchies; ergo, cookie-dough consumption by hungry pot smokers might lead to as many as 2.8 million fat, bloated corpses a year. But time and space dictate that I deal with only one neo-prohibitionist crackpot theory at a time.)

The most amusing quote in the Guardian article comes from prof. John Henry, one of the editorial's co-authors:

"Even if the number of deaths attributable to cannabis smoking turned out to be a fraction of the 30,000 we believe could be possible, cannabis smoking would still be described as a major health hazard."

You follow? Even if what these medical mercenaries say is blatantly ridiculous (which it is), by their own admission they'll still insist that they're right, no matter what. They've made up their minds, and that's that, and damn the facts.

In war, truth is usually the first casualty. Drug wars, clearly, are no exception.

Comments

[Vivian McPeak]

Three cheerios to you! I greedily rolled your thoughts and ramblings on the toxicity of cannabis into a brain bomber and I dare say one toke just makes me want more.

The feeble and pathetic sea of lies that the Drug Warriors wallow in is apparently overtaking their sense of reality. Your concise rebuttal to the warped projections coming from the british medical establishment was well put forward!

As a medical marijuana patient and a full time pot activist I thank ya heartily. Hey, is there such a thing as Hemphasema or Bongchitus? Ok, just checking.

Perhaps we could re-print your piece in our event program this year? http://www.hempfest.org

Regards, Viv- Executive Director Seattle Hempfest/Director Wa NORML

[Dave Hitt]

It should also be noted that the mixing of tobacco and cannabis, which is common in Europe and Australia, is virtually unheard of in the states.

The drug warriors have learned well from the US nicotine nannies. The NN's learned that they can spew *any* number, any number at all, and "journalists" will repeat it ad nauseam until a substantial portion of the public believes it. Most people never even think to question numbers as long as some authority is spewing them.

[Poustman]

Though I've never used, and don't ever plan to, the outrage over pot never ceases to amaze me. It seems to be truly hysterical: something at a gut level makes so many folks instantly fight-or-flight when the subject is raised on any level.

Good point about bathtub deaths, too.

[Mark James]

Dear Nobodiesbusiness. Thanks for that work on the Dutch translation that JihadWatch.org used.

Hey, on this issue I think you are comparing apples and oranges. The CDC numbers deal with THC overdose. They don't deal with traffic accidents, cancers, respiratory illness, heart disease, etc. caused by smoking marijuana.

In the US, the private pension system and the gov't social security system have been saved because it was found that smoking tabacco was actually more deadly than anyone had imagined. The actuarial tables were way off and instead of smokers dying 5 years earlier than the rest of us, they are dying 10 to 15 years earlier. So, reading that only 30,000 people will have their lives shortened somewhat by marijuana smoking seems entirely plausible. Have a great day!

[dr Dave]

Hmmn, don't get me wrong: I am all for legalization, a sensible attitude toward [illegal] drugs and the freedom to enjoy them...

BUT, you seem to be missing a major point here: when the CDC publishes their stats, they give the direct cause of death. For example, if we go by your reading, there's probably about zero death a year from tobacco... Now if take lung cancer, well, that's a different story...

I full-heartedly agree with your condemnation of Reefer-Madness-style bullcrap and the claim people will be dropping dead after three joints... but I don't think this is how this study would try to explain their (admittedly ludicrous) figure. I think the whole point of the study is precisely to look at cannabis as just another form of general consumption drug.

The idea of extrapolating tobacco data to draw their number is extremely debatable, of course, but the fact remains: THC is highly carcinogenic. Don't take my word for it, look up the many studies done on the matter, ask anybody with even the faintest of medical knowledge about the subject, they'll tell you: smoking one joint sure ain't gonna kill you, smoking a few thousands over a period of many years, might. Just like tobacco.

[george]

you silly europeans and your tobacco joints! In America, we can handle our drugs without nicotine and chemical-laden tobacco mixed in ;) I remember being in amsterdam, and they had a pre-rolled joint called "the american dream," because it was the only one that was 100% marijuana.

No wonder so many europeans smoke cigarettes, you're all addicted because you smoke tobacco every time you smoke pot! You're right, you should really quit that and smoke the pure ganja!

[george]

also, marijuana has NEVER caused lung cancer.

[Annonomus]

Although it seems that cannibas has not caused any direct cause of death from overdose there are side effects and long term effects that may eventually kill down the road. Cannibas increases your heart rate which can lead to heart attack. Cannibas also destroys brain cells. So you may think that its great now to get high and act stupid but in twenty years when you can't remember how to go to the bathroom, you will definitely be sorry. Don't take the chance and don't do drugs no matter how harmless they seem. Get high off of life not cannibas

[Andrew Elliott]

This is crazy I don't understand how the United States Of America is determined to keep cannibas off the streets.However, with the way that these politicians are I doubt that is will be legal here. As long as cannibas is considered a drug it won't be allowed here. It really bothers me about that because if it wasn't for all the stipulations that the American's use to alter the constitution I do think that cannibas would be allow I have smoked cannibas for 13 years and I believe if given and tested to the right person,with the right scientist i could happen. But as long as america is so called at war they won't donate the time or resources it could be possible I know if Amsterdam can develope laws that maybe restict you to the coffee shop, or they believe that there can be users that can be controlled it would work here. But as long as there is nobody to stand up for it, I will stay locked up in my house smoking.

[becky]

doesnt smoking cause mental problems and couldnt that lead to deaths and ill health including suicide in the future?

[Steve Young]

Smoking cannabis does not destroy brain cells, or cause any lasting mental problems.

[Steve Young]

http://www.tryptamind.com/cannabis_sativa.html

[Nick]

re Mark James comments. THC is not carcinogenic, and has in fact been shown to reduce the size of lung tumours in animal models. Cannabis smoke does contain carcinogenic compounds as would be expected if
you set fire to any complex organic material, but to my knowledge has not been credibly linked to cancer, probably because of the anti-cancer effects of THC.

[RangerGordon]

Oh, no! We must always remember that cannabis causes insanity, breast development in males, communism and such confusion that one day you may come home to find your wife humming contentedly, bathing a rump roast in the sink and basting the baby, browning evenly in the oven.

Still, as Dr Dave says, we haven't heard much about this tobacco-mixing technique here on the other side of the pond. I gave up smoking years ago, but how exactly does it work?

[Brandy Abrah]

I've smoked pot years and I love it!