Pubdate: Mon, 26 Jun 2017
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Larry Comeau
Page: A10

ADVERTISING FOR MARIJUANA WOULD HARM OUR YOUTH

Re Canadian pot ads? Think beer ads. Then think again, Delacourt, June
24

With studies showing that young people smoking marijuana run a greatly
enhanced risk of seriously damaging their developing brains, I sure
hope columnist Susan Delacourt is correct and the Trudeau Liberals
won't flood Canadians with ads to increase pot sales.

What I find mind-boggling is that after governments spent billions on
negative tobacco ads, and many young people are now not taking up that
addictive and health-damaging habit, the Trudeau government is adding
a potentially even more damaging drug to the mix.

Little is known about the long-term effects of the 85 cannabinoids
contained in this drug on the human body. Numerous studies, including
a recent one from the U.K., point to marijuana being a stepping-stone
drug to harder ones.

One thing for sure, legalization will require more police officers to
combat organized crime that will undoubtedly get involved, as it has
in Washington and Colorado states. And our ailing health care will
feel the impact of treating the diseases that will result from this
drug.

Larry Comeau, Ottawa
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MAP posted-by: Matt