Monday, May 29, 2017

Canadian medical journal editor objects against Liberals' pot bill: "it could harm the health of young Canadians."


Canadian medical journal editor objects against Liberals' pot bill: "it could harm the health of young Canadians. (CanMedJournal).
The head of a major Canadian medical journal says that the Liberal government’s marijuana legalization bill shouldn’t pass through Parliament because it could harm the health of young Canadians.
In an editorial published Monday, the interim editor-in-chief of the Canadian Medical Association Journal, Dr. Diane Kelsall, argues that the government is ignoring the health risks marijuana poses to the developing brain and that the minimum legal age is too low.
“The government appears to be hastening to deliver on a campaign promise without being careful enough about the health impacts of policy,” she wrote. “If Parliament truly cares about the public health and safety of Canadians, especially our youth, this bill will not pass.”
The government has argued that the new bill will prevent youth from getting access to marijuana and divert funds from organized crime.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last December that 18 would be an appropriate minimum legal age for marijuana consumption. He called it a “reasonable compromise,” noting that many Canadians younger than 18 already smoke marijuana. Provinces will also ultimately have the option of individually raising the age limit within their own jurisdictions.
Dr. Kelsall argues that the government should set a national standard for retail distribution, raise the minimum legal age, and ban home growing plants to prevent youth from accessing cannabis and developing a dependence or other substance abuse issues.
“Most of us know a young person whose life was derailed because of marijuana use,” she writes. “Bill C-45 is unlikely to prevent such tragedies from occurring and, conversely, may make them more frequent.Hmmmm......Especially if you won't prosecute underage users. Read the full story here.

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