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Scientists seek cannabis users for bone health study
3-17-`07 | The Belfast Telegraph

Scientists in Scotland are looking for two-hundred cannabis users so they can find out whether the drug harms people's bones.

It is hoped the study at the University of Edinburgh could lead to the development of medicines to treat osteoporosis.

So far researchers know the banned substance affects our skeletons, but they are not sure whether it worsens the disease, or makes it better.

Professor Stuart Ralston, who is leading the research team, said: " Cannabis is the most widely-used illegal drug in the UK, particularly in the young, but virtually nothing is known about its possible effects on bone health.

"The aim of our study is to determine if cannabis use negatively impacts on bone density, which is an important risk factor for osteoporosis in later life.

"We would look to see if ten joints a week is worse than one. The situation is complex because we know cannabis is often smoked in combination with tobacco and so the study will take this into account.

"We will also take account of cannabis users' diet, exercise and alcohol intake, since these are also known to influence bone health."

The study is "completely confidential". Volunteers will undergo a bone scan and blood tests to discover the condition of their bones compared with non-cannabis users.

Prof Ralston said: "What we have found before is some compounds which act like cannabis can stimulate cells which remove bone, causing thinning of the bone, but they can also stimulate cells that cause the build-up of new bone.

"This is an exciting discovery because it opens up the possibility that we can develop new drug treatments for osteoporosis.

"The treatments for osteoporosis that are out there now either work by preventing bone loss or by stimulating bone formation.

"If we could develop a new treatment that worked in both ways at the same time, this would be a major advance."

The study is part of a £894,000 research programme funded by the Arthritis Research Campaign.

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