Pubdate: Sun, 27 Apr 2014
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Times Colonist
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html
Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Paul Brigel
Page: A13

MARIJUANA COMMENTARY NOT BASED ON EVIDENCE

Re: "We shouldn't ignore the effects of marijuana," April 20.

The writer states he is bringing forward evidence-based information. 
He did not.

As a GP for 43 years, I have read both evidence-based and 
emotion-based articles on marijuana. Michel Perron's commentary was 
emotion-based.

Marijuana as cause of psychosis is controversial - the user could be 
experiencing decreased anxiety or depression from marijuana: "reverse 
causality." Respiratory difficulties and lung cancer have not been 
established - quite the opposite.

Studies have shown marijuana to decrease anxiety, decrease 
depression, increase hippocampus brain volume and maintain cognitive 
function in aging adults.

Paul Brigel, MD Victoria
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom