Pubdate: Wed, 17 Aug 2016
Source: Morning Star, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 The Morning Star
Contact:  http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1352
Author: D.M. John

AGAINST LEGALIZATION

Why are the Liberals thinking of legalizing marijuana? Is it possible
that they don't know what's on their own website where Health Canada
has posted serious warnings against its use, particularly, for anyone
under the age of 25 (Health Canada consumer information cannabis).

Is the government blind to the following detrimental effects of
legalization in places like Colorado?

A) Increased use: An April 2016 report by the Colorado Department of
Public Safety found that although high school use dropped slightly,
use by 18 to 25 year olds increased from 21 per cent in 2006 to 31 per
cent in 2014 while use by adults doubled.

B) Increased emergency visits: As reported in a June 2014 article in
the New England Journal of Medicine, between 2004 and 2011, marijuana
was associated with a 100 per cent increase in the number of emergency
department visits in the U.S. to 129,000 when used alone and a 62 per
cent increase to 327,000 visits when used in conjunction with other
drugs.

C) Automobile fatalities: Colorado began the process of legalization
for medical use in 2006, and since 2013, has implemented full
legalization. Data gathered by the Rocky Mountain High Intensity
Trafficking Area in Colorado reported a rise in marijuana-related
traffic deaths of 92 per cent from 2010 to 2014.

D) Psychosis: The American Psychiatric Association's official statement 
sites a strong association of cannabis use with the onset of psychiatric 
disorders and finds that adolescents are particularly vulnerable to 
harm. Health Canada has issued similar warnings.

E) Gateway drug: Marijuana is a gateway drug. Rarely do law
enforcement agents meet heroin or cocaine addicts who did not start
their drug use with marijuana. For example, the Journal of American
Medical Association reported that based on a study of 300 sets of
twins, the marijuana-using twin was four times more likely than their
sibling to use cocaine.

Is the Liberal government unaware that B.C. recently declared a public
health emergency after a dramatic increase in deaths from illicit
drugs in the first three months of 2016?

And, does their adherence to ideology trump the harm that will result
to young Canadians from cannabis use?

D.M. John

Vernon
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MAP posted-by: Matt