Pubdate: Fri, 28 Dec 2012 Source: Cowichan Valley Citizen (CN BC) Copyright: 2012 Reed Elley Contact: http://www.canada.com/cowichanvalleycitizen/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4349 Author: Reed Elley LIKE SMOKING, WE SHOULD START ANTI-POT CAMPAIGN I read with interest your recent editorial on medical marijuana. When I was deputy health critic of the Reform Party official opposition back in the late '90s, along with the other critics led by Dr. Grant Hill, we did an exhaustive study on medical marijuana. Even though we came out in favour of it long before the government approved it, we were aware that it would have to have major restrictions put on its use and distribution. Now after several years, the present government doing its due diligence has determined, after listening to the experts at Health Canada, that it is out of control. If this is true then of course something has to change. Tougher restrictions will have to be introduced. What has not changed in over 20 years from when I participated in that study is the harmful effects of long term use of marijuana. Many would have us believe that it is a benign substance. Nothing could be further from the truth. The same effect of euphoria and dulling of the sensory organs that produces relief of pain in chronic pain sufferers is there for anybody else who smokes marijuana. Long term exposure to the chemical substances produces problems and sometimes even worse, much akin to those who smoke tobacco. Interestingly enough, we have recognized the harmful health problems in tobacco smoke and launched a number of years ago a very successful campaign to get people to stop smoking. I am waiting for every health ministry at both levels of senior government to start the same campaign in our society and especially in our schools aimed at our young people. We need to make marijuana smoking as socially unacceptable as tobacco has become. Surely that is the real problem we should be concerned about and not worry if the government is just doing its job. Reed Elley Former MP Nanaimo-Cowichan - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D