Pubdate: Fri, 04 Mar 2016
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Jodie Emery
Page: B7

POT FEARS DEBUNKED

Peer-Reviewed Research Found Cannabis Helped Depressed People

Re: Pot has drawbacks, Letters, March 2

Reefer madness and anti-pot propaganda still make the rounds, even as 
legalization policies and unbiased research are underway. It's 
important to look at the scientific facts about marijuana use, rather 
than get caught up in fear and emotional reactions.

Andre Piver wrote about the use of marijuana being harmful for the 
emotional development of the brain, but did not cite any evidence. In 
contrast to his claims, a recent study on teenage marijuana users 
over a two-decade period determined that marijuana use does not cause 
depression, anxiety or psychosis (University of Pittsburgh Medical 
Center and Rutgers University, 2015 report).

Additionally, a 2012 study published in the peer-reviewed academic 
journal European Neuropsychopharmacology concluded that people who 
are depressed and inclined to focus on negative emotions can actually 
improve their mental health by using cannabis. This study has been in 
the news again lately, but is presented with a negative spin.

Marijuana has been the subject of unscientific and irrational 
propaganda for many decades, but science is proving what many 
cannabis experts and advocates have known for a long time.

Cannabis is not as dangerous as prohibitionists would like us to 
believe. Don't fear the reefer!

Jodie Emery Vancouver
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom