Pubdate: Sun, 29 May 2016
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.torontosun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Antonella Artuso
Page: 7

MARIJUANA USE WON'T SKYROCKET: EXPERT

Says general population won't take it up once it's
legalized

Stoned Nation? A Toronto psychologist who treats depression, anxiety
and addiction says he doesn't expect the general population to take up
marijuana with great enthusiasm once legalized.

Even as police in Toronto swooped down on marijuana dispensaries this
week, the countdown clock is ticking towards next year when it is
expected the drug will no longer be considered an illegal substance.

Dr. Richard Amaral said he expects some interest will be fired up in
the early days after legalization.

"Whenever a new product, or a new beverage perhaps, might get
released, there's curiosity, people try it ... but it quickly goes
back down after several months," Amaral said. "And I think that will
be the case here with marijuana."

A Forum Poll released in late in 2015 found that one-fifth of adult
Canadians have used pot in the past year, and that almost one-quarter
say they will try it once it becomes legal.

The most likely to give pot a go are men, the young, those who didn't
finish college and New Democrat supporters, according to Forum's poll.

A National Survey on Drug Use and Health in the United States found an
uptake in users after Colorado legalized marijuana in 2012, although
it's not known if that trend has proved long-term.

Regular, long-term users of drugs often have underlying psychological
or mental health issues, Amaral said.

"Maybe they use it to medicate themselves from anxiety or perhaps
depression," he said. "But in the absence of that, they won't be using
the drug.

"The ironic thing is that marijuana use can also trigger anxiety," he
said.

According to a Stats Canada survey (2007-11), anti-depressants are
among the top five prescriptions for adults across the country..

Amaral doesn't anticipate people switching out antidepressants for
marijuana in significant numbers because it doesn't provide consistent
relief.

"With marijuana, though, the effect will wear off a few hours later so
they've got to take it again," he said. "And then they develop a
tolerance which would be another concern because they're going to need
more of the drug."

Some patients with long-term pain on an opioid will take marijuana to
stimulate their appetites or "take their minds off of the pain," he
said.

While he believes that most adult Canadians will handle the transition
to legalized pot without heading off the deep end, he does wonder
about the impact on young people.

"My initial concern is that I think legalizing it makes it more
accessible, even though it's going to be controlled and regulated," he
said. "I think making it legalized will increase the accessibility and
the availability and therefore the potential for abuse by young people."

However, if Canada were to invest some of the proceeds from the sale
of marijuana into drug and rehabilitation treatment, it could actually
help to improve the overall mental health of young people as it has in
other countries that have gone down this road, Amaral said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt