Pubdate: Fri, 22 Apr 2016
Source: Kamloops This Week (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Kamloops This Week
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1271
Author: Cam Fortems

LAKE: POT-LEGALIZATION LAWS MUST PROTECT YOUNG PEOPLE

B.C.'s health minister says he came away from a marijuana summit in
New York City this week even more convinced pending legalization must
protect young people and address public safety.

Terry Lake attended the April 18 and April 19 Cannabis Science and
Policy Summit, where his daughter Stephanie, a PhD student, was a presenter.

(He paid his own airfare and hotel, while billing government for
conference fees.)

In addition to the personal reason, Lake said with the legalization
plan by the federal Liberal government, he wanted to know more about
experiences in U.S. states, including Washington and Colorado.

Canada's health minister, Jane Philpott, said Wednesday the federal
government will introduce legislation to legalize marijuana in spring
next year. Depending on how that legislation is crafted, the provinces
may have to come up with their own regulations, including on point of
sale.

Lake said the message was reinforced by neurologists and psychiatrists
at the conference that "marijuana can have really aggressive impacts
on the developing brain."

He wants to see any legislation make it much tougher for teens to
obtain marijuana. Informally, he said he's been told by young people
that under today's laws, it's much easier for students to obtain pot
than alcohol.

The Trudeau government maintains one of the reasons it is legalizing
the drug is to better regulate it, including keeping it out of the
hands of children.

Lake said another takeaway for him is a statistic that 80 per cent of
marijuana is consumed by 20 per cent of people, something he said has
productivity and workplace-safety implications.

The B.C. Liberal government has appointed B.C.'s medical health
officer, Dr. Perry Kendall, as a representative on a federal panel to
study legalization.

A coalition of the BC Government Employees' Union and private liquor
store owners is lobbying to be the legal retailer of marijuana in this
province, but Lake noted Kendall opposes co-selling alcohol and marijuana.

Lake said there may be a role for medical marijuana to take the place
of opioids in pain management. He said he's eager to see rules that
will replace today's "Wild West" of unregulated marijuana dispensaries
that cannot accurately tell consumers what is in their product. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D