Ottawa -- The Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine believe that moving ahead with any change to the legal status of marijuana, before development of a national drug strategy, is irresponsible and potentially harmful to the health of Canadians (Senators Want Pot Legalized -- Sept. 5).

As physicians, all too often we see first-hand the harmful effects of drug addiction. As a society, our goal should be to end drug addiction. The CMA and the CSAM are concerned that the recent report from the Senate that recommends the legalization of marijuana runs contrary to this goal.

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