Pubdate: Wed, 22 Oct 2014
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Page: 11
Copyright: 2014 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Giuseppe Valiante
Referenced: Marijuana's Health Risks and Harms: http://mapinc.org/url/CSCLyFhB
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Marijuana - Canada)

WHAT ARE TORIES SMOKING?

NDP, Liberals Say Health Committee Marijuana Report Bias

OTTAWA - The NDP and Liberals say the Conservative-dominated health
committee report on marijuana is biased, inherently flawed and omits
evidence that contradicts Conservative ideology.

The health committee's report, called "Health Risks and Harms of
Marijuana," recommends the government try to prevent marijuana use in
Canada as well as raise awareness of the drug's harmful effects.

Health committee chairman and Conservative MP Ben Lobb didn't return
QMI Agency's request for comment Tuesday.

The NDP and Liberals rejected the committee's majority
report.

New Democrats on the committee said testimony "that did not support
(the Conservatives') pre-conceived views about marijuana ... was
dismissed and eliminated."

The Liberals also said the recommendations and testimony in the
majority report "(do) not reflect the testimony and advice that we
heard. Much of the testimony ... specifically around scientific
evidence, is absent from the report."

The Conservative government has resisted calls to decriminalize or
legalize marijuana in Canada.

Conservative ministers, over the past 12 months, have shown openness
to consider decriminalization, but no significant steps have been
announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has called for outright legalization of
marijuana, while the NDP says users shouldn't be criminally charged
and the drug's effects studied further.

The committee's report cites doctors who testified marijuana use could
be linked to the development of psychosis and schizophrenia, as well
as anxiety and depression.

All the doctors cited in the majority report advocated against
legalization.

The report recommended the government continue to raise awareness to
"the scientific evidence related to the health risks and harms of marijuana."

It also suggested the government fund research into "improving
understanding" of short-and long-term effects of the drug.
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MAP posted-by: Richard