Pubdate: Wed, 27 Apr 2016
Source: Edmonton Examiner, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2016 Sun Media
Contact: http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/letters
Website: http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1837
Author: Doug Johnson

EXPERTS SAY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S PLANS TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA ARE GOOD,
BUT THERE COULD BE SOME BUMMERS ALONG THE WAY

The federal government, in a feat of showmanship, announced last
Wednesday that marijuana legalization would be coming next spring. The
day is known as 420 among head shops and the people who frequent them.

An often-cited anecdote when it comes to drug regulation refers to the
case of Portugal. Prior to 2001, the country was experiencing a drug
epidemic. Post 2001, the country's government decriminalized
possession of drugs.

This led to a marked decrease in rates of hard drug use (like heroin
and cocaine) and HIV, though, notably, an increase in recreational
marijuana use.

Further, American states which have legalized pot have experienced
decreases in rates of prescription opiate and opioid overdoses.

According to Elaine Hyshka, assistant professor with the University of
Alberta's school of public health, the Trudeau administration's call
in legalizing marijuana is a good one, generally, but it's still a
little early to say how things will look and the effect it will have
on the country.

"From a public health perspective, it's less important how many people
are using cannabis, and more important to understand how many people
are experiencing harm from cannabis.

"I think under the legal framework, people will be more likely,
because most people who use cannabis never experience any problems
with it, but some people will," she said.

"Under a legal system, people will be more forthcoming and willing to
talk about whether they are experiencing problems, and public health
officials will be able to screen people and get a sense of what
they're using and how often they are using it and catch people who are
developing problematic use patterns earlier."

Hyshka recommends, between now and the future legalization of
cannabis, decriminalizing possession of the plant.

"Giving people criminal records for cannabis possession is
counterproductive I think," she said.

Further, it's less harmful than some legal psychoactive substances
like alcohol and tobacco, which are both physically addicting.

Contradicting studies arguing the addictive potential of marijuana
come out periodically, though most point to the drug ranking below
cigarettes and booze in terms of habit formation.

Finally, this move, Hyshka said, would help keep the drug out of the
hands of youth and adolescents.

"There are no age restrictions on the black market," she
said.

While street dealers, depending on who they are, may sell to minors,
government-regulated businesses would likely function like liquor
stores or tobacconists, both of which face the threat of a hefty fine
for selling to anyone under 18.

Though cannabis may, one day, no longer be relegated to the black
market, that doesn't mean that the black market still won't deal in
it.

According to online drug information resource Erowid, a quarter ounce
of high-quality marijuana runs between $60 and $120 in the United States.

If the government taxes the crop too heavily or can't produce a
quality product, buyers may still call up their dealers, Hyshka said.

"The key for the government is to find the right balance between
discouraging a black market, and protecting public health," she said.

There will always be caveats, though, and while many people who smoked
joints or ridiculously-shaped bongs on Alberta's Legislature grounds
on 420 are probably stoked to hear the news, there's still some bugs
to work out and issues to consider.

For example, Peter Silverstone, professor of psychiatry at the U of A,
said is the extent to which marijuana inhibits a user's ability to
operate a vehicle.

"We have huge problems in marijuana and the essential one is that
there is no standardized dose, and that we don't know how an
individual is likely to react," he said, adding that the amount of
psychoactive chemicals in marijuana has increased dramatically over
the years.

Age is also an issue, he said. Marijuana can affect the brain
chemistry of people whose minds are still developing, a process which,
Silverstone said, stops around the age of 21.

According to a Statistics Canada report on marijuana use in 2012, 20%
of Canadian males aged 15-17 have smoked marijuana the year prior.

According to an email sent by Alison Burns, communications advisor 
with the City of Edmonton: "This is controlled under the federal 
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) and would be outside the 
bylaw legislation piece. It's really too early to tell what may 
happen as far as any bylaw impacts go."

Both Edmonton Police Service and the RCMP's K Division declined
comment.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D