Pubdate: Thu, 30 Mar 2017 Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2017 Postmedia Network Contact: http://www.calgaryherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66 Author: Noel Hershfield Page: A14 LEGALIZING POT SIMPLY A MISTAKE Re: "Liberal promise stirs up a pot of trouble," March 28. It is incredible that Health Canada and the government have decided to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Here is an update on this psychoactive drug. Dr. Raphael Mechoulam of Israel has been studying it for 55 years. He and his colleagues have written 400 papers and have 20 patents. He stated recently that legalizing this powerful psychoactive drug is very dangerous. I guess our experts have not read his research. Critical skills related to attention and learning are seriously diminished. More accidents, more injuries, huge increase in work absence. A 20-year study from Wales showed that addiction does occur, as does imbibing other substances, such as cocaine. Ninety per cent of cocaine addicts started their drug career with pot. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there has been a huge increase in emergency attendance due to pot, including anxiety, paranoia and suicidal ideation. My colleagues who work emergencies in this city have noted this as well. Smoking the stuff will damage the lungs, and there are studies that biopsies from lung bronchi show the same changes that cigarette smoke cause. The bottom line is that legalizing it is a poor decision. Noel Hershfield, FRCP, Calgary (Noel Hershfield is a clinical professor at the University of Calgary.) - --- MAP posted-by: Matt