Pubdate: Thu, 08 May 2014 Source: Oshawa This Week (CN ON) Copyright: 2014 Oshawa This Week Contact: http://www.durhamregion.com/oshawa-on-news Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1767 Note: Please specify Oshawa This Week as source in LTE Author: Chris Topple MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION WOULD BE ILL-CONSIDERED To the editor: In April, federal Liberal leader Justin Trudeau visited Durham Region and again stated he favours legalizing marijuana and having it taxed by the government. This idea resonates with many Canadians, but caution is warranted. In April, Harvard University released a study and concluded that even casual use of marijuana causes irreversible brain impairment involving one's ability to adjust to everyday life and make decisions. The report particularly cautions against marijuana use by people under age 30. Marijuana is also known to carry many cancer-causing substances, and can cause lung and other cancers. Legalizing and selling it would lead to more impaired driving and higher insurance and health-care costs. The American states of Washington and Colorado legalized it this year and there are reports of children selling their parents' legal marijuana at schools. Impaired students do not academically do well. We are a society that abuses substances including street drugs, prescription drugs, alcohol and tobacco. We need to consider these and other consequences before increasing access to a drug that young people already can obtain too easily from drug dealers who won't disappear with legalization. Chris Topple Oshawa - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom