Pubdate: Thu, 08 May 2014
Source: Oshawa This Week (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Oshawa This Week
Contact:  http://www.durhamregion.com/oshawa-on-news
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1767
Note: Please specify Oshawa This Week as source in LTE
Author: Chris Topple

MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION WOULD BE ILL-CONSIDERED

To the editor:

In April, federal Liberal leader Justin Trudeau visited Durham Region 
and again stated he favours legalizing marijuana and having it taxed 
by the government.

This idea resonates with many Canadians, but caution is warranted. In 
April, Harvard University released a study and concluded that even 
casual use of marijuana causes irreversible brain impairment 
involving one's ability to adjust to everyday life and make 
decisions. The report particularly cautions against marijuana use by 
people under age 30.

Marijuana is also known to carry many cancer-causing substances, and 
can cause lung and other cancers. Legalizing and selling it would 
lead to more impaired driving and higher insurance and health-care 
costs. The American states of Washington and Colorado legalized it 
this year and there are reports of children selling their parents' 
legal marijuana at schools. Impaired students do not academically do well.

We are a society that abuses substances including street drugs, 
prescription drugs, alcohol and tobacco. We need to consider these 
and other consequences before increasing access to a drug that young 
people already can obtain too easily from drug dealers who won't 
disappear with legalization.

Chris Topple

Oshawa
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