Pubdate: Fri, 07 Dec 2012
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2012 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/letters.html
Website: http://www.calgaryherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Susan Martinuk
Page: A12

LEGALIZED POT OPENS PANDORA'S BOX OF PROBLEMS

The stoners in Washington state didn't waste any time celebrating (or
pushing the boundaries of) their new freedom to light up a joint. The
new law went into effect Thursday, and although public consumption is
banned, revellers took to the streets. At midnight Wednesday, the
party began.

In November, Washington voted (55 to 45 per cent) to decriminalize
possession of up to one ounce of marijuana for those over 21. Of
course, the notion that the 21-year-old age barrier will remain intact
is ridiculous, as is the notion that the person holding the marijuana
won't pass it on to others. Thus another great social experiment
begins and there is little hope it will end well.

For now, buying and selling marijuana is illegal. But the state has
grand plans to establish a system of licensed growers, processors and
retail stores. The shift from criminalization to taxation has
politicians positively salivating at the prospect of a 25 per cent tax
on marijuana sales.

Most media outlets seem to be following the festivities with humour.
After all, everyone knows pot is harmless; it just makes people happy,
more relaxed. What's wrong with that?

I can think of four things for starters.

First, the number of users will increase dramatically. As long as the
drug is illegal, there is at least some perception it is harmful. In
an Australian survey, the primary reason young people gave for not
using cannabis or for stopping its use was its illegal status.

Second, a 2010 review showed that more than 50 per cent of all
American first-time users were less than 18, and once young people
start using pot, they're almost twice as likely to become addicted.
According to research by the U.S.'s National Institute on Drug Abuse,
nine per cent of casual marijuana users will become addicted. That
increases to 17 per cent for teenagers, and the addiction rate soars
as high as 50 per cent for daily users.

The third issue relates to users' general and mental health. The
fiscal cliff is going to look like a molehill once state leaders catch
a glimpse of the health-care cliff they are about to create.

Numerous studies (and systematic reviews) have demonstrated marijuana
plays a role in many longterm psychiatric conditions. According to a
2009 chronic toxicology review, that includes "depression, anxiety,
psychosis, bipolar disorder and an amotivational state."
(Amotivational state is defined as the "diminished or absent drive to
engage in typically rewarding activities," like work, school, family,
etc.)

Other studies have shown marijuana exacerbates symptoms in
schizophrenia and may even be responsible for its onset. The risk of
experiencing these mental health problems increases in those who begin
smoking marijuana at a young age.

A 2010 Canadian study of 14,000 Ontarians by Toronto's Centre for
Addiction and Mental Health showed that anxiety and mood disorders
were most common among daily marijuana users and least common in those
who didn't use it at all. Even infrequent users (once per month or
less) had a 43 per cent increase in developing mood disorders when
compared to non-users.

There are also the typical health problems associated with cigarette
smoking - chronic cough and respiratory problems, emphysema and
cancer. Marijuana smoke contains up to 70 per cent more irritants and
carcinogens than regular cigarette smoke, upping the ante for those
gambling with drug use.

Finally, has anyone thought of the impact this will have on school,
work or driving? Marijuana impairs cognitive functions. It acts on
areas of the brain that affect pleasure (hence, the problem), memory,
thinking, concentration, co-ordination and sensory/time perception.

Judgment is impaired and reaction time is decreased. Yet these people
are going to drive?

At work, marijuana use has been linked to increased absences,
lateness, accidents and job turnover. Students who smoke marijuana
tend to get lower grades and are more likely to drop out of school.

Yet all this evidence seems to hold little weight against a culture
that is determined to have freedom to do whatever they want (including
drugs) despite its negative impact on society. Enjoy the freedom now.
Like cigarette smokers in the 1950s and 1960s, it's only a matter of
time before it takes its toll.
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MAP posted-by: Matt