§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the relationship between cannabis smoking and the risks of(a) schizophrenia and (b) lung cancer. [40841]
§ Ms BlearsThe "'Dangerousness of drugs'" report published last year by the national addiction centre states that there is evidence of an association between cannabis use and schizophrenia, but the significance of this association is unclear. Cannabis can exacerbate the symptoms of schizophrenia in affected individuals and is linked with relapse in schizophrenia.
The report also states that there is no conclusive evidence that cannabis causes cancer in humans, but may be an important risk factor for the development of respiratory cancer. However, smoking tobacco as well or using tobacco as a vehicle for smoking cannabis resin is a confounding factor.