It’s dopey to claim cannabis is safe

CAN cannabis cure cancer? There’s not a shred of evidence to support such a claim, but that doesn’t stop the shrill pro- cannabis lobby from claiming otherwise.

Campaigners have jumped on the case of 32-year-old Tiffany Youngs, wife of England rugby star Tom, who said this week that she believes cannabis oil helped to cure her of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Her claim has reignited the debate around cannabis, its alleged anti-cancer properties and, therefore, the case for decriminalising it.

But contrary to what the pro-cannabis lobby would have you believe, this is a well-researched drug. There are over 10,000 studies into its medicinal properties and we know it contains many useful compounds.

Just this week, researchers showed how cannabidiol, which is derived from cannabis, is effective in managing a rare, severe type of epilepsy called Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. And another derivative, dronabinol, is used in treating nausea.

So yes, cannabis — or rather its extracted constituents — have a therapeutic value.

But let’s not forget that it also contains harmful compounds. People who smoke cannabis are at increased risk of lung cancer and chronic respiratory diseases. And there are a host of mental health problems that cannabis is associated with, from anxiety to psychosis.

Hyping the medical benefits of cannabis — to the point of recklessly claiming a cure for cancer — is just a cynical attempt to push an agenda to decriminalise it for recreational use.

I only wish everyone would be honest about it.