Pubdate: Wed, 22 Oct 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
Author: Bill Curry
Referenced: Marijuana's Health Risks and Harms: http://mapinc.org/url/CSCLyFhB

OPPOSITION SAYS MARIJUANA REPORT LACKS KEY DETAILS

The release of a final report on marijuana by the House of Commons
health committee has opposition MPs accusing the Conservatives of
whitewashing all expert advice that disagrees with the government's
stand.

The report summarizes a study that was controversial from the start
because the committee's mandate was to look at "marijuana's health
risks and harms," which prompted concerns the outcome was intended to
fit with the government's political messaging against the drug.

The future of federal marijuana policy is shaping up to be a key point
of political debate ahead of next year's federal election in light of
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau's call for Canada to be among the first
countries in the world to legalize the drug for recreational use. The
Conservative Party has run ads saying Mr. Trudeau's policy would put
kids at risk.

The committee report highlights testimony that warned of marijuana's
negative impact on brain development, its possible contribution to the
development of schizophrenia, its addictive nature and the dangers of
impaired driving related to marijuana.

The recommendations are silent on the effectiveness of current
marijuana laws and make no mention of the medical marijuana debate.

The main recommendation from Tuesday's report is a call for a
federally funded ad campaign, which comes one day after Health Canada
unveiled a $7.5million ad campaign for television and online warning
about the dangers of abusing marijuana and prescription drugs.

The anti-marijuana ad features ominous music and dark images that
highlight the drug's impact on the brain; flashing messages such as
"loss of memory" and "decreased IQ." The ad ends with the line:
"Smoking marijuana: it can damage a teen for life." A similar campaign
on abusing prescription drugs airs on television from now until December.

Several medical organizations refused Health Canada's invitation over
the summer to participate in the ad campaign, calling it a "political
football."

Conservative MP and health committee member Eve Adams, who is
parliamentary secretary to the Health Minister, said opinions were not
included in the report if they did not relate to the committee's
mandate. She also defended the ad campaign.

"It's not political. It's about public health," she said. "It is the
role of Health Canada to discuss public health issues."

The NDP and Liberal parties issued dissenting reports noting that key
evidence heard by the committee - such as the reported benefits of
medical marijuana - was not in the final summary of what MPs learned
from 23 witnesses during their five-day study.

NDP health critic Libby Davies said the government is spending tax
dollars on an ad campaign that is in line with messaging from the
Conservative party.

"It's very offensive," she said. "What I find so bothersome about
these ads is that they're very extreme. It's a scare message."

Ms. Davies said the government ignored research showing there are more
effective ways of advertising to youth about drug abuse.

"This is old-school. It might be a sophisticated presentation, but
they're still based in a commentary that has been thoroughly shot down
over, now, many decades," she said.

In August, the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Canadian
Medical Association and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons
of Canada said in a joint statement that they would not work with
Health Canada on the campaign.

However Chris Simpson, the CMA president, responded positively to the
ad on Tuesday.

"Any effort to highlight the dangers, harm and potential side effects
of consuming marijuana is welcome," he said.  
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MAP posted-by: Richard