Pubdate: Fri, 31 Mar 2017
Source: Tri-City News (Port Coquitlam, CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 Tri-City News
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/3X3xlf9Y
Website: http://www.tricitynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1239

HOW OLD TO TOKE?

One of the stated goals of the federal government's plans to legalize
marijuana is to keep minors safe by controlling distribution.

The idea is to get gangs and drug dealers out of the picture so teens
will wait until they can legally purchase cannabis and, by making the
age of purchase 18, hoping they'll delay using because it's not worth
breaking the law.

Anyone who knows teens and their propensity to take risks will be
skeptical of this approach but with the timely intervention of
parents, law enforcement agencies, schools, counsellors and youth
groups, it could work in some cases.

What's important for people to know is that even while cannabis is
being made legal, it is not considered safe for youths to use, and
there remain concern about early and frequent use for short-term
cognitive impairment and under-performing in school as well as
psychotic symptoms and disorders.

Still, if cannabis is to be made legal, it makes the most sense to
make the legal age of purchase the same as for alcohol and in B.C.:
19. So kids here in Lotusland will just have to wait an extra year to
get their pot - whether they will is an open question.
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MAP posted-by: Matt