Pubdate: Wed, 15 Sep 2010
Source: Kamloops This Week (CN BC)
Copyright: 2010 Kamloops This Week
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1271
Author: Colin Walker
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n744/a05.html

MARIJUANA MYTHS REPEATED AS FACT - AND THEY ARE NOT

Editor:

Re: The Canadian Mental Heath Association's column of Sept. 10 ('For 
the sake of your mental health, don't let your brain go to pot'):

Could the Kamloops chapter of the CMHA provide references to support 
the claims in this article?

"It would seem these fears are coming to fruition as more and more 
teens are being treated for psychosis that appears to have been 
brought on by marijuana use."

Where can I find information on this? Are there statistics somewhere 
that are public? "Appears to have been" is not the same as "was 
definitely caused by."

Canada has the highest reported usage of cannabis yet rates of 
schizophrenia remain flat.

This makes me think most research in this area is junk science 
produced to support a failed prohibition.

It's just as likely people affected by schizophrenia self-medicate 
with cannabis to feel better creating the correlation.

Correlation is not causation. This and similar "research" attempts to 
scapegoat cannabis using statistics to explain phenomena that is 
obviously not well understood. This supports a "gateway" effect that 
puts more vulnerable people in prison, exacerbating their problems, 
and thus does a great disservice to those who do suffer from various 
mental issues.

When people aren't getting thrown in prison for cannabis, I might 
reconsider; however, the political nature of this issue taints the science.

Certainly, youths should not do drugs, but most cannabis research in 
that area is used to continue the prohibition for adults.

So, facts are required, please.

Colin Walker

New Westminster
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom