ABSTRACT
An international colloquium on illicit drugs organized with the assistance of the City of Paris was held at the National Academy of Medicine in Paris April 8 - 9, 1992. The program dealt essentially with human effects of cannabis consumption, and the following general conclusions were drawn at the end of the colloquium:
The toxicity of cannabis is today well established, experimentally and clinically. This drug adversely effects the central nervous system, the lung, immunity and reproductive function.
Epidemiological studies have reported that the use of "hard drugs" rarely occurs among subjects who have never consumed cannabis.
Consequently, the participants to this colloquium rebut the distinction made between "soft" and "hard" drugs.
The trivialization ("decriminalization") of cannabis use, where it has occurred, has resulted in a considerable increase of its consumption and of its subsequent damaging effects.
It is important to foster a campaign of information and prevention bearing both on the legal aspects and the health consequences of cannabis consumption.
