Pubdate: Sun, 03 Jun 2012
Source: Morning Star, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 The Morning Star
Contact:  http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1352
Author: Pat Harding
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n265/a03.html

LEGALIZATION COULD CARRY TOLL

I would like to congratulate and thank Rory White for his letter (May 
6) on the legalization of marijuana.

I can enlighten him on some of the human costs that legalizing 
marijuana will have.

Firstly, the overburdened health care system will have greater costs 
and there will be different legal costs as well. I am surprised that 
the mayor, who is a doctor, hasn't considered the health issues 
involved in the regular use of marijuana.

Prolonged and regular use of marijuana can cause psychosis and mental 
illness, especially for those who are predisposed to mental illness 
(have the genes/runs in families).

B.C. bud is so potent these days that psychosis will be a real issue. 
Psychosis includes delusions and hallucinations which will affect the 
user's behaviour.

If the deterrents Mr. White talks about are removed, there can be 
more serious consequences. Australia has one of the finest mental 
health systems in the world and has done studies on this exact issue. 
Prolonged and regular use can lead to schizophrenia.

Besides, marijuana is a depressant and stays in the system a lot 
longer than alcohol. It is a false belief of mentally ill people that 
marijuana helps them. In fact, it will make their illnesses worse as 
will alcohol, which is also a depressant. Self-medication becomes an issue.

I am not against the medicinal use of marijuana as I know there are 
some cancer patients and people who suffer from chronic pain who 
benefit from the use of marijuana. Usually, these people have tried 
everything and this is the only thing that works.

But, I wouldn't want to see the changes in behaviour legalization 
would bring. The police will be needed to control illegal behaviour 
that might not have happened otherwise. We already have enough 
problems dealing with drunk drivers.

Remember, our brain chemistry is a fragile thing. Anything we put 
into our bodies affects the brain chemistry which causes mental 
illnesses, whether it's good or bad.

I just believe hasty decisions are being made without the full picture.

Pat Harding, M.Sc.

Vernon
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom