Pubdate: Tue, 04 Oct 2011
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2011 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wEtbT4yU
Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Dr. David Saul, Practising Clinical Cannabinology
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n603/a03.html
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n603/a04.html

POT DANGERS (III)

Re: Marijuana Has No Place In Society, letter to the editor, Sept. 30; A Misguided Sense Of Justice, letter to the editor, Sept. 28.

I understand Dr. Henry T. Chuang's concerns of the potential mental
health dysfunctions relating to cannabis. However, those concerns have
been shown to be equal or substantially greater for other restricted,
illicit drugs, plus well known for alcohol when abused. Many of the
psychotropic medications in everyday use continue to pose serious side
effect risk profiles.

When debating schizophrenia risks with cannabis use, this condition 
affects about 1% of the population, yet worldwide rates have not 
increased, despite over 40% of North Americans have used or are using 
cannabis (and almost all illegally). To quote from The Pot Book, 
edited by Dr. Julie Holland, clinical associate professor of 
psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine: "In America, the most likely 
harm one might experience as a result of using cannabis is getting arrested."

Dr. David Saul,

practising clinical cannabinology

Toronto. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.