Pubdate: Tue, 07 Jan 2020
Source: Wall Street Journal (US)
Copyright: 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.wsj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/487
Author: Barton Cobert, M.D.
Note: Headline by Newshawk

WE STILL NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CANNABIS

As a physician specializing in drug safety, I agree that "pot is more
dangerous than people realize, and Americans should pause on the rush
to legalize until we understand how much medical and social harm it is
doing."

The safety profile of cannabis is largely unknown. The states and localities 
that have legalized marijuana have focused on the quality of marijuana 
products, but haven't required anyone to systematically report side effects. 
That needs to change. Since today's marijuana products are four to five times 
more potent than past products, old data understates the safety issues.

I fear that the marijuana story is a slow-moving train wreck. We're
witnessing widespread use of largely unregulated and untested products
which may be toxic in themselves as well as adulterated or
counterfeited.

Barton Cobert, M.D.

Chapel Hill, N.C.
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MAP posted-by: Matt