Pubdate: Tue, 24 May 2016
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Stephanie Lake & M-J. Milloy
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Authors: Stephanie Lake & M-J. Milloy

BASE CANNABIS USE WARNINGS ON SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE

Re: High-potency pot poses risks to the developing brain, Opinion, May 16

While we were pleased to see The Sun devote attention to the important
topic of adolescent cannabis use, we were disappointed to read Dr.
Diane McIntosh's op-ed in which she stated that adolescent cannabis
use increases the risk of developing schizophrenia. After intense
study, scientists have concluded the evidence to date does not support
the claim that cannabis causes schizophrenia. While the correlation
between living with schizophrenia and using cannabis has often been
observed, much of the research has suggested that the association can
be explained, at least in part, by the use of cannabis as a means of
self-medication among individuals predisposed to, or living with,
schizophrenia.

Developing a public health framework for legal cannabis among adults
in cannabis will require policy-makers to pay close attention to the
scientific evidence on the benefits and harms of cannabis - but
causing schizophrenia does not appear to be one of them.

Stephanie Lake & M-J. Milloy, B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS,
St. Paul's Hospital; University of British Columbia 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D