Pubdate: Sat, 10 Oct 2015
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network
Contact:  http://www.calgaryherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Diana Dow-Edwards
Page: A22

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE DANGERS OF POT

Re: "Harper is just blowing smoke on pot use," Rob Breakenridge, 
Opinion, Oct. 6.

Responding to Rob Breakenridge's statement, "Marijuana is less 
harmful than cigarettes," several points need to be addressed.

Marijuana use by adolescents is inversely related to perceived risk. 
As perceived risk is high, use is down. When risk appears less, use 
is up, according to U.S. statistics. Cigarette smoking has gone down 
because adolescents know it's dangerous. What message are we sending 
our children with legalization?

Although statistics on marijuana-associated deaths aren't available, 
this doesn't imply safety.

People aren't smoking a pack a day and are unlikely to get cancer 
from marijuana, but what about your brain? Marijuana is known to 
cause cognitive impairment - cigarettes are cognitive enhancers.

Marijuana impairs time perception. What does this mean to someone 
driving and trying to estimate when an approaching car will be too 
close? I agree that cigarettes should be banished, but that doesn't 
mean that using marijuana is without consequences.

Diana Dow-Edwards, Lethbridge

Diana Dow-Edwards is a professor of physiology/pharmacology at the 
State University of New York, and a visiting Fulbright Scholar at the 
University of Lethbridge.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom