Cannabis will make teenagers impotent: doctors

London, Apr 28 (UNI) Beware cannabis smokers! Doctors warn that smoking cannbis will make you impotent over a period of time.

Doctors have reported a large rise in cases of young men seeking advice to combat potential lifelong impotence. They said most have a history of heavy cannabis abuse.

Growing numbers of teenage boys have been treated in US for impotence after smoking cannabis for several years.

Experts have now called for more research to be carried out into the links between sexual dysfunction and the drug. Anecdotal evidence already points towards its role in causing impotence and in lowering testosterone and sexual desire.

Ian Russell, a specialist nurse practitioner in andrology and urology at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary in Scotland said, ''In my clinic I see youngsters from the age of 17 onwards with sexual dysfunction. The age of onset of smoking cannabis is young, ten-year-olds in some areas.'' ''Smoking five six joints a week regularly can potentially suppress and traumatise the formation of leydig cells, which secrete testosterone, in the testes,'' he added.

''These kids, when they hit 14 or 15, will have sexual problems.

For instance, not being able to get an erection, and possibly not have any sexual desire and a very, very low testosterone level,'' he told the Daily Mail.

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