Pubdate: Fri, 28 Feb 2014
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2014 The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

TEEN BRAINS ON DRUGS

Marijuana has momentum on its side. In the United States, Colorado, 
Washington and Oregon have already voted to legalize pot. More than a 
dozen other states could line up to follow suit, through bill, ballot 
initiative or executive order. In Canada, too, there's a growing 
discussion over liberalizing the laws.

Colorado opened its pot shops this year, so it's far too early to 
tell what the impact of legalization will be. In Canada, legalization 
is playing out as an election issue - with Liberals and Conservatives 
weighing in on the morality of legalization. What Canadians should be 
paying more attention to is the science around the effects of 
marijuana - particularly on the teenage brain.

Those who favour legalization are not proposing to sell pot to 
teenagers, but there's conflicting data on whether the legal sale of 
marijuana to adults would lead to increased use by minors. There are 
arguments on both sides: It could signal to kids that smoking a joint 
is just as acceptable as having a drink. Would that lead to wider 
use? Or would the greater regulation that accompanies legal sales 
make it harder for minors to get marijuana?

Also uncertain are the medical effects of marijuana on the teenage 
brain. Adolescence is a crucial period of brain development. Some 
studies have shown early marijuana use permanently alters its course. 
In extreme cases it has been tied to depression and anxiety. But 
there are a lot of unknowns, and researchers admit there's still much 
work to be done.

In the U.S., the conservative right hinged its opposition to 
legalization on the risk marijuana poses to teens. In several states, 
they failed to persuade a majority of voters, and so far the sky has 
not fallen. It remains to be seen whether Stephen Harper's 
Conservatives will succeed by striking a similar tone. Liberal Leader 
Justin Trudeau favours legalization; the Tories are running ads 
saying that poses a threat to kids.

It would be far more useful to focus on what actually matters: 
Whether it would be possible to liberalize the rules on pot, and 
simultaneously reduce use, especially teenage use. The experiments 
going on in Colorado and other U.S. states will offer Canada some 
clues. Let's use evidence to decide.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom