Pubdate: Fri, 17 Apr 2015
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Rona Ambrose
Page: B7

PUT A LID ON POT

Tories oppose selling marijuana in stores because it harms kids

As health minister, I am very concerned about the health risks
associated with smoking marijuana, especially for kids.

A new Statistics Canada report confirms that the Conservative
government's approach to combating marijuana smoking is working.

It states that past-year use has gone down by nearly one-third in
youth aged 15-17 from 2002-2012. And the Canadian Drug Use Monitoring
Survey reports overall marijuana use by youth has dropped by almost 30
per cent since 2008 and 45 per cent since 2004. The evidence is clear
that when youth smoke marijuana their risks of developing mental
health issues, including psychosis and schizophrenia increase and that
regular, long-term use in youth can harm concentration, memory, the
ability to think and to make decisions and can also produce anxiety,
paranoia, fear or panic.

We continue to oppose Justin Trudeau's deeply irresponsible scheme to
make it easier for our children to access marijuana by selling it in
stores, just like cigarettes. The Liberal plan can have only one
effect: increasing access and use of marijuana.

Rona Ambrose

Minister of Health
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MAP posted-by: Matt