Pubdate: Wed, 19 Apr 2017
Source: Maple Ridge News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 Maple Ridge News
Contact:  http://www.mapleridgenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1328
Author: Phil Melnychuk

MAPLE RIDGE DOCTOR WANTS LIMITS ON RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA

Limit potency and amount for ages 21-25

Maple Ridge psychiatrist Dr. Biju Mathew is joining others in his
profession in calling for the federal government to make legal age for
smoking marijuana 21.

"Marijuana shouldn't be used on kids below 25," Mathew
said.

The Cannabis Act, introduced by the federal government last week,
calls for the minimum age forusing recreational marijuana to be 18,
although provinces have the option to raise that.

"They have [proposed to] legalized pot, and they've also come up with
stricter regulations, but they have lowered the age to 18, which is
very disturbing," Mathew, president of the B.C. Psychiatric
Association, said of the federal government.

He has been practising for more than 30 years.

"Nowadays, kids are using pot from a very young age, 12 to 13. If they
continue to when they're 16,they have a greater chance of developing
psychosis, than if they're not using."

He said there's plenty of evidence linking psychosis in youth and
young adults to early and long-term marijuana use.

"They're more predisposed to having psychosis. Or people who are
predisposed to having psychosis,get worse. We see it happening on …
psychiatric wards.

"We know for a fact … that marijuana does contribute to the
predisposition of having psychosis when kids use marijuana from a young 
age."

The Canadian Psychiatric Association has called for raising the age to
21, as well as limiting the potency and amounts that people between 21
and 25 years old could buy.

It said last week that there's a "strong evidence base" that shows
that "early and regular" pot use can affect thinking, memory,
intelligence and attention.

"Research shows that the human brain continues to develop around the
age of 25. Therefore,psychiatrists are concerned that the regular use
of cannabis prior to that age may negatively affect the brain's
healthy maturation process," said the association.

"The people who published the paper … have been in the field for a
long time. And they would not have come up with a statement just like
that without adequate evidence," Mathew said.

Neither should marijuana be used to help people with mental
issues.

"As far as we're concerned, there's no room for marijuana in the
treatment of psychiatric disorders."

He suggested that when recreational marijuana is legalized a year from
now, packages have warning labels, as does tobacco.

"Education is the most important thing," said Mathew. "We still have
to be proactive, just like we didwith smoking or obesity."

Many people may not be aware of the hazards, he added.

Port Coquitlam NDP candidate Mike Farnworth in March criticized the
provincial government for not responding to the pending legislation,
such as deciding how recreational marijuana will be sold or regulated.

Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Liberal candidate Doug Bing said he's heard
nothing from party headquarters since.

"I haven't heard it mentioned at the door step once. I don't know if
that's a concern for people or not, but I haven't heard a thing."

Most people are just trying to pay their bills or keep their job, he
said.

"Those are things that really seem to be on the top of people's minds
right now."

Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Green party candidate Alex Pope welcomes the
suggestion by the psychiatric association.

When the association has done studies and is making suggestions, "I
think we should listen.

"The legislation … is a good starting point. And I don't think the
conversation should end there. Ithink we need to listen to people's
input and find ways to adjust that," Pope said.

Although, he welcomes the legislation, "I tell my kids, 'Don't use
drugs,' and I include marijuana in that.

"We need to listen to the people who are bringing forward these
issues. How do you do research on something that's illegal?"

The experience of other countries should also be considered, "because
it is working in other countries."

Pope said previous approach of criminalizing has been proven not to
work. But he wants more research before he decides what the age limit
should be.

Mike Murray, the Conservative candidate in the 2015 federal election,
also spoke out against the law.

"The federal Liberals don't care. This is how they won. The so-called
champions of evidence-based legislation," Murray said on Facebook.
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MAP posted-by: Matt