Pubdate: Tue, 19 Dec 2017
Source: Kingston Whig-Standard (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 Sun Media
Contact: http://www.thewhig.com/letters
Website: http://www.thewhig.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/224
Author: Catharina Summers
Page: A4

SUPPORT FOR LEGAL POT SHORTSIGHTED

Re: "Public health supports legalization of marijuana," Dec. 16.

The problem with having one's head in the sand is that you can't open
your eyes!

It is concerning that our local public health unit supports the legal
sale of marijuana to those over the age of 18 years of age, yet at the
same time it acknowledges that regular marijuana use for those under
the age of 25 years will reduce the cognitive functioning of their
still-developing brain. Quite the contradiction. It is almost as if
the health unit is of the mindset that once marijuana use becomes
legal, fewer of our young adults with indulge.

Recent statistics tell us that marijuana use in Canada among those
between the ages of 15 and 24 years of age is one of the highest in
the world. How can legalization suddenly persuade young adults to not
indulge? The government is asking us to believe that once it assumes
the sale of this substance, it will ensure that the various agencies
and those in the medical communities will be educating our teenagers
as to the harmful effects of marijuana, and this will dissuade them.
If the government truly believes such an all-out public awareness
initiative will be so effective, why has it been waiting? Canada has
had a problem for years.

Furthermore, the government now is telling us that on July 1, 2018,
all the drug dealers who are currently selling their weed will crawl
back under the rock from which they came and will no longer sell to
teenagers.

OK, let's just pull our heads out of the sand.

Catharina Summers

Kingston
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MAP posted-by: Matt