International Journal of Drug Policy
Volume 20, Issue 6 , Pages 458-466 , November 2009

The adverse health effects of cannabis use: What are they, and what are their implications for policy?

Paper presented to the International Society for the Study of Drug Policy, Lisbon, Portugal, April 2008

  • Wayne Hall

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationTel.: +61 7 336 55418; fax: +61 7 336 55442.

Received 24 June 2008 ,Revised 12 January 2009 ,Accepted 26 February 2009.

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PII: S0955-3959(09)00050-4

doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2009.02.013

International Journal of Drug Policy
Volume 20, Issue 6 , Pages 458-466 , November 2009