Pubdate: Sat, 07 Oct 2017 Source: Intelligencer, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2017, The Belleville Intelligencer Contact: http://www.intelligencer.ca/letters Website: http://www.intelligencer.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2332 Author: Larry Comeau Page: A6 POLICE NOT READY FOR MARIJUANA Yet another progressive government obviously more concerned with raking in expected windfalls from selling pot, rather than being concerned over the potential harm to young people. Studies in the U.K., the USA and Canada have conclusively shown young people smoking pot run a greatly enhanced risk of damaging their developing brains and suffering psychosis and other mental issues later in life. Our own Canadian Medical Associate has stated nobody should smoke this dangerous drug, containing 85 canninbinoids with unknown long-term health and mental consequences, under 21. From a policing perspective, like the rules set by the greedy Wynne government, enforcement will be an absolute nightmare. No wonder police chiefs have stated they simply are not ready for the July 1, 2018 legalization date. Imagine trying to police that anyone can grow four plants, have no more than 30 grams on their person and trying to take drivers off the highways impaired by inhalation of pot with no simply roadside test yet developed. We still do not know what is the permissible amount of THC someone can have in their system. Then police must investigate the involvement of organized crime groups that certainly will be involved in illicit distribution, no matter how low a province sets the selling price. I find it mind-boggling that uninformed progressive governments continue to feel marijuana is 'no more harmful' than alcohol and tobacco. Unlike alcohol, which is excreted from the body in roughly 12 hours, pot can remain in one's body up to 90 days. I do wonder if any of these progressives would feel comfortable having a surgeon, who toked up the night before, doing their heart operation the next morning or the pilot flying them, considering pot can actually accumulate in one's system. Larry Comeau Ottawa - --- MAP posted-by: Matt