Pubdate: Mon, 05 Dec 2011
Source: Alberni Valley Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2011 Madeline Bruce
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouverisland/albernivalleytimes/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4043
Author: Madeline Bruce

PROOF IS OUT THERE ABOUT HARM FROM MARIJUANA

Far be it from me to want to see our youth criminalized for drug 
experimentation, but there is scientific evidence that marijuana use 
is harmful, particularly to adolescents.

In the journal Biological Psychiatry, 2005, Caspi et al found a 
genetic variable that caused adult psychosis in some adolescents who 
had smoked marijuana. Researchers estimate that 9% of marijuana 
smokers will become addicted to it. This number goes up to one in six 
in those who start smoking in their teens, and 25 to 50% among daily users.

Withdrawal is difficult. Adolescents who smoke marijuana get lower 
grades and are more likely to drop out of school (Fergusson and Bowden, 2008).

Madeline Bruce

Nanaimo
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