Pubdate: Mon, 30 Apr 2012
Source: Mayerthorpe Freelancer (CN AB)
Copyright: 2012 Osprey Media
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/K1BRRzKA
Website: http://www.mayerthorpefreelancer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/733
Author: Sgt. Lorne Adamitz (K Division, Edmonton Drugs and Organized 
Crime Awareness Services)

MARIJUANA CAUSES DOPINESS, HEALTH/SAFETY RISK

Marijuana is causing dopiness even among those who don't smoke it.

It has been known for decades that marijuana has detrimental effects 
on memory, judgment and concentration, and the drug now is causing 
social confusion about both its physiological effects and legal status.

Debate is centred upon issues including: its impact on health. People 
disagree on whether using the drug to alleviate symptoms of certain 
chronic ailments has medical benefits.

Another issue is its impact on public safety.

Finally people are not sure whether possessing it is legal or illegal.

Still illegal

As a result of a court decision, Health Canada is obliged to provide 
medical marijuana but it remains illegal to possess marijuana in 
Canada without a medical exemption permit from Health Canada has 
authorized a medical exemption permit.

Possession of marijuana is an offence under section 4(1) of the 
Controlled Drugs and Substance Act (CDSA).

Political debate surrounds decriminalizing its possession, but, even 
if it is decriminalized possession of marijuana will still be illegal.

The difference is whether a person would then have a criminal record, 
for which could only be expunged by a pardon, or it would be a " 
ticket" offence, similar to a traffic violation fine.

The CDSA currently states that if a person possesses 30 grams or less 
of marijuana, this is a "summary conviction offence."

This does not allow authorities to obtain an offender's fingerprints, 
consequently this offence cannot be registered on the Canadian Police 
Information Centre (CPIC).

Further confusion also exists regarding what 30 grams of marijuana represents.

It is the amount of marijuana that fits within a sandwich baggie.

This represents just over 1 ounce of marijuana which can be used to 
produce, on average, 84 to 140 marijuana joints (cigarettes).

The effects of smoked marijuana last between one to four hours, per 
hit or dose. Lingering effects can last up to 24 hours.

Confusion also exists regarding the medical benefits although some 
studies indicate marijuana may provide some relief for certain 
medical conditions.

Pharmaceutical derivatives measurable as medications

The pharmaceutical industry has developed marinol, cesamet, and 
sativex as medications which are synthetic forms of naturally 
occurring substances in marijuana.

They are used to treat AIDS and other conditions associated with 
appetite loss, weight loss, pain relief, and the severe nausea and 
vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy.

These drugs are still not clearly understood and are prescribed only 
after other drugs have been tried and found to be ineffective.

But, unlike 'medical marijuana," which has too many unknowns and 
causes many physicians to be reluctant to prescribe it, the dosages 
of these pharmaceutical aids are known and can be controlled and monitored.

Little proof of medical benefit

The president of the Canadian Medical Association stated, in the 
Globe and Mail: "There is a fundamental disconnect between the 
meticulous and scientifically robust efficacy and safety evidence 
required by Health Canada for all other pharmaceuticals, and that 
which is available for marijuana that is smoked. Indeed, there is 
only scattered scientific evidence describing the effectiveness of 
this treatment.

"Physicians feel unable to counsel patients appropriately regarding 
the use of marijuana because information on dosage, interaction with 
other drugs, impact on other pre-existing medical conditions and 
possible long-term health hazards is not available."

Confusion and a lack of clarity have caused the Medical Marijuana 
Access Regulations to be fraught with abuse.

Worse than smoking tobacco

Aside from the consequences of marijuana getting a user "high," there 
are other reasons not to equate marijuana use with smoking tobacco cigarettes.

The downside of marijuana use includes: a four-fold increase in the 
inhalation of carbon monoxide and there are about 2,000 chemicals 
that are produced when marijuana is smoked, some of which are 
poisonous; airway injury, lung inflammation, acute and chronic 
bronchitis, and an increased risk of developing psychological disorders.

There has been tremendous education on the hazards of smoking and the 
impact this activity has on personal health and the health care system.

So the question must be asked whether these consequences also hold 
true for smoking and inhaling marijuana?

Public safety

Public safety is another area of debate. Organized crime is heavily 
involved in illegal production and distribution of marijuana in Canada.

Marijuana from Canada is transported and traded internationally for 
cash, guns and cocaine.

Canada is a signatory to many international agreements and is bound 
by these regulations which govern how we, as a nation, treat marijuana.

Hazards of doping and driving

There is, however, a more direct impact to public safety
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart