Pubdate: Mon, 18 Aug 2014
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/letters.html
Website: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Glen McGGregor
Page: A9
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada)

MDS PULL OUT OF ANTI-POT AD CAMPAIGN

Ads Have Become 'Political Football,' Three Top Doctors' Groups Say

Three leading doctors' groups will not participate in a 
taxpayer-funded advertising campaign against marijuana, saying the 
ads had become a "political football" in the debate over legal status 
of the drug.

In a rare joint statement issued Saturday, the Canadian Medical 
Association, the College of Family Physicians of Canada and Royal 
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada said they would decline 
Health Canada's invitation to endorse a campaign on the dangers of 
marijuana use by young people. The ad campaign, with an estimated 
budget of $5 million, would not have directly targeted Liberal leader 
Justin Trudeau's support for the legalization and regulation of 
marijuana sales, but comes at the Conservative Party mounts its own 
increasingly virulent attacks on his pot position.

Health Canada had asked the physicians' groups to review the ads for 
accuracy and lend their logos and endorsements, which would have lent 
added credibility to the campaign but could have drawn doctors into 
the politically charged debate.

Although the CMA had been still considering its involvement earlier 
this week, the other two groups had agreed to participate in the ads, 
which were slated to run this fall.

But after the Citizen reported on the campaign Wednesday, Trudeau 
spoke out against the plan, calling it a thinly-veiled partisan 
attack against him, paid for with tax dollars.

Boards of the three groups discussed the plan Friday and Saturday 
before issuing the joint statement.

"The educational campaign has now become a political football on 
Canada's marijuana policy and for this reason the CFPC, CMA and Royal 
College will not be participating," the statement said.

"We did not, and do not, support or endorse any political messaging 
or political advertising on this issue. All three organizations 
support the importance of educating the public on the dangers of drug 
and alcohol abuse.

"The CFPC, CMA and Royal College will continue working to enhance 
public education and increase awareness of the health risks of drug 
and alcohol consumption by Canada's young people."

Tom McMillan, a spokesman for the Royal College added that 
"educational campaign has now become a political debate on Canada's 
marijuana policy and for this reason the Royal College has officially 
withdrawn."

The withdrawal of the doctors is unlikely to stop Health Canada from 
continuing to push its anti-pot message at teens and their parents. 
Last December, Health Minister Rona Ambrose announced $11.5 million 
in funding for an educational campaign on drug use and young people.

The Tories have repeatedly accused Trudeau of wanted to make it 
easier for children to obtain marijuana, even though he maintains 
that government regulation of its sale, like alcohol, would make it harder.

Veterans Minister Julian Fantino sent out a pamphlet last month 
warning voters that Trudeau wants to see pot sold in corner stores. 
In fact, Trudeau has never laid out exactly how he envisions the sale 
of marijuana would work or at what age one could legally buy. This 
week, Justice Minister Peter MacKay weighed in, calling Trudeau's 
support of legalization "wrong-headed" and saying it would make it 
easier, not harder, for kids to get drugs.

Doctors groups have, in the past, raised concerns about the effects 
cannabis could have on the developing brains of adolescents, but most 
of the debate has been in the context of medical marijuana and not 
recreational use.

The College of Family Physicians is expecting to put out a position 
paper in coming weeks that will recommend against doctors prescribing 
medical marijuana to anyone under the age of 25.

That could have political implications, too, by forcing Trudeau to 
put more flesh on his plan for legalization and specify an age of 
majority for legal possession and purchase of cannabis products.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom