Aspergillosis spores and medical marijuana
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* Barry R. Waisglass

Thank you for the article1 on the rare but catastrophic risk of inhaling aspergillosis spores, and for the warning, particularly for our immunocompromised patients, that this risk may rise with the inhalation of cannabis.

Part of Health Canada’s responsibility is to assure consumers that the dried cannabis they purchase from our licensed commercial producers is safe and free from such contaminants. Some of these producers irradiate their cannabis specifically for immunocompromised patients, eliminating the risk of spore inhalation. As a doctor who prescribes medical cannabis over narcotics, primarily for harm reduction, this case report highlights the importance of getting our patients to switch to the safer irradiated cannabis now available to them.

## Reference

1.  Remington TL, Fuller J, Chiu I. Chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis in a patient with diabetes and marijuana use. CMAJ 2015 June 22 [Epub ahead of print]