Pubdate: Wed, 16 Aug 2017
Source: Sault Star, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 The Sault Star
Contact: http://www.saultstar.com/letters
Website: http://www.saultstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1071
Author: Don Edwards
Page: 6

LEGALIZING POT WILL YIELD SKY-HIGH HEALTH-CARE COSTS

I was a volunteer for the Lung Association for 30 years. We advocated
to help smokers quit and pointed out the dangers of smoking tobacco
products. I was president of the Ontario Lung Association for two
years and appointed to the Canadian Lung Association for two years.

During those years, I met many doctors who pointed out the dangers of
tobacco to human health.

Those same doctors told me that smoking marijuana was even more
unhealthy because marijuana contained several more carcinogens (cancer
causing agents) than tobacco.

The federal government is well aware of the tremendous costs to health
care of tobacco smoking and yet it is proceeding with legalizing to
allow the use of marijuana by selling it openly.

The excuse is being used that the government wants to control the
illegal selling of marijuana. A rather lame excuse since it can't
control the illegal selling of tobacco now.

I am too old now to start a campaign to stop the smoking of marijuana
but someone else will have to pick up that torch before the costs of
smoking cigarettes and marijuana completely overwhelm the health
system and everyone gets hurt by those costs.

Don Edwards

275 Albert St. E.

Sault Ste. Marie
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt