If all goes according to plan, Canada's new marijuana law will take effect in July 2018. It's what happens between now and then that is critical, especially when it comes to safeguarding young Canadians who are the most vulnerable to the potential harms of marijuana use. Studies have shown adolescents are particularly at risk due to the fact their brains are continuing to develop and at a rapid pace. It's wise to take into consideration that research has shown that chronic marijuana usage is linked to memory and attention difficulties, prominently among individuals who started use while in early adolescence. [continues 346 words]
DEAR DR. ROACH: What advice do you have for both doctors and patients for approaching medical marijuana use? What is your ideal vision of its future? ANSWER: I look at marijuana as a potentially useful medicinal plant that has several potential downsides. One of the downsides is an unrealistic expectation of its usefulness by believers. I increasingly see claims that marijuana (or one of its extracts) can treat or cure almost every known disease. It also is hampered by its status as a Schedule I drug by the Drug Enforcement Agency, so high-quality research is difficult to do. Finally, it has been used for many years as a recreational drug (which is partially responsible for the first two downsides). This has led to resistance to the idea among nonbelievers that it might have legitimate use. The psychological effects for which it is used recreationally can cause it to be intolerable for some. Further, a small percentage of people (estimates range between 2 percent and 6 percent) have difficulty quitting the drug, even when they want to. [continues 427 words]
DEAR DR. ROACH: What advice do you have for both doctors and patients for approaching medical marijuana use? What is your ideal vision of its future? ANSWER: I look at marijuana as a potentially useful medicinal plant that has several potential downsides. One of the downsides is an unrealistic expectation of its usefulness by believers. I increasingly see claims that marijuana (or one of its extracts) can treat or cure almost every known disease. It also is hampered by its status as a Schedule I drug by the Drug Enforcement Agency, so high-quality research is difficult to do. [continues 557 words]
Author cites 'toxic' effect on developing brain The interim editor-in-chief of the Canadian Medical Association Journal is pleading for the defeat of a federal government plan to legalize marijuana, fearful youth will have easier access to a drug that damages their developing brains. "Simply put, cannabis should not be used by young people," Dr. Diane Kelsall writes in an editorial published Monday in the journal. "It is toxic to their cortical neuronal networks, with both functional and structural changes seen in the brains of youth who use cannabis regularly." [continues 545 words]
(Re: Pot laws creating concerns, April 19 edition) This excellent report by Jason Miller points out the growing concerns from municipal administrators as they try to come to grips with marijuana legalization on July 1, 2018. Councillor Mike Graham is correct that this is purely a political move by the Trudeau Liberals to fulfil an election promise and to rake in the billions expected from sales. Parents should also be concerned with studies from the U.K., USA and our own Canadian Medical Association all showing young people using this drug run greatly enhanced risk of suffering psychosis and other mental issues later in life. Yet, in his infinite wisdom, Trudeau is ignoring the CMA's recommendation that nobody under 21 be allowed to make a purchase setting the age at 18. There are more than 85 cannabinoids contained in marijuana with very little known about their long-term effects on the human body. [continues 215 words]
Marijuana will soon be legal in Newfoundland and Labrador. Among other things, it will no longer be against the law to grow up to four plants at a time in your house. Anyone with a green thumb could produce about six pounds a year. In today's market that's a value of almost $50,000! This unregulated marijuana will flood our streets. This alone negates any argument that "The marijuana we are buying from government dispensers is tightly regulated," because who is going to pay $30 to $40 a gram from our government dealers when they can buy unregulated marijuana from the thousands of want to be entrepreneurs who will sell it for less? [continues 578 words]
Re: Marijuana related ER visits among kids quadruple at Colorado hospital. With pot legalization to take place on July 1, 2018, this is a scary report for parents. There really is no surprise to anyone following reports from the U.K., U.S. Surgeon General and the Canadian Medical Association all stating unequivocally that the youngest smoking pot run a greatly enhanced risk of suffering psychosis and other mental issues. Yet Trudeau is ignoring these studies, setting 18 as the age to purchase pot. Legalization is all about his pleasing a certain voting block and of course raking in billions in sales. This is the most dangerous move by any Canadian government. Early on Colorado had warned Trudeau that legalization is the easy part, everything thereafter, including the entrance of organized crime, much more difficult. Larry Comeau (Parents have a role to play in this. Where government fails, parents are responsible for their children's safety.) [end]
A Western professor says it's easier to do heroin research than his marijuana work Steven Laviolette is trying to score some pot, but not just any marijuana will do. The Western University neuroscientist is sourcing pure tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component in cannabis that gives users the euphoric high feeling. Unlike a gram of marijuana that can be bought for $10 on the street or at an illegal dispensary, the same amount of pure THC costs more than $2,000 and is nearly impossible to find in Canada, said Laviolette, who researches marijuana's effect on the brain. [continues 475 words]
As Canada joins Uruguay as the only two countries to legalize marijuana, our country is about to see wholesale changes, the most obvious being the degradation of our cities. Anyone who has visited Amsterdam or Seattle can attest to this fact. Colorado and Washington states found with legalization came 'black market sales' by organized crime, thus allowing young people to buy it. Legalization takes away the negative stigma and both states found more use by young people. Yet, the Trudeau government is falsely claiming legalization of this drug is the best way to keep organized crime out of the black market and its sales to our kids. Funny enough, organized crime has likely been supplying some medical marijuana on the black market in Canada. [continues 185 words]
The era of legal weed will require broad investments in public health, according to the Saskatchewan Medical Association. Legislation alone is inadequate, president Dr. Intheran Pillay said. "I think expanding the access to support services such as mental health and substance use services would be important. I think it would be important to expand access to training programs in addiction medicine and I think it's important to make extensive educational resources on the risks of harm to youth and others available, as well." [continues 213 words]
The Record speaks to a wide range of people who shun normal painkillers KITCHENER - William Campbell and his wife were on their way to a friend's 25th wedding anniversary one night in 2008 when a drunk driver pulled out in front of them. They didn't have time to stop. Campbell, 53, was hospitalized after the head-on collision, and everything in his life would change. Earlier that day, he'd aced an exam to become a lab technician, after getting laid off from a furniture factory where he'd worked for 22 years. [continues 2148 words]
This time next year will be the last 4/20 - the unofficial cannabis holiday known by its numeric calendar date - when possessing weed for personal use will be a crime. Legalization is coming to Canada in the summer of 2018. So far, reactions to legalized cannabis have ranged from healthy concern to outright fearmongering. Some people have claimed it will lead the youth astray, make our roads less safe and harm our overall health. Legalizing cannabis is not without risk. But legalization can also address how risky our current approach, the so-called War On Drugs, has been. [continues 461 words]
OTTAWA - Legalizing marijuana shows a "disregard" for public health and safety, Canada's Catholic bishops charge. The bishops' statement came one day before the Liberal government announced the introduction April 13 in the House of Commons of the Cannabis Act, which will eventually "legalize, regulate and restrict access" to marijuana. "From the standpoint of public health, not only does this course of action appear to be unwise, it is potentially dangerous," said the statement signed by the president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), Bishop Douglas Crosby of Hamilton. "The very significant health risks associated with the use of cannabis are widely recognized, particularly in young people." [continues 596 words]
Limit potency and amount for ages 21-25 Maple Ridge psychiatrist Dr. Biju Mathew is joining others in his profession in calling for the federal government to make legal age for smoking marijuana 21. "Marijuana shouldn't be used on kids below 25," Mathew said. The Cannabis Act, introduced by the federal government last week, calls for the minimum age forusing recreational marijuana to be 18, although provinces have the option to raise that. "They have [proposed to] legalized pot, and they've also come up with stricter regulations, but they have lowered the age to 18, which is very disturbing," Mathew, president of the B.C. Psychiatric Association, said of the federal government. [continues 622 words]
When young Justin Trudeau announced during has election campaign that a Liberal government would legalize the personal possession of marijuana for recreational purposes, the overall political impact could best be described as a collective response somewhere between indifference to "it's about time." For most, the issue of marijuana legalization was pretty low on totem pole of concerns, given more pressing issues. At most, the proposal helped solidify young Justin's reputation as a hip, modern alternative to the depressing crankiness of his predecessor. [continues 978 words]
Anyone who has visited Amsterdam or Seattle has a good idea of what marijuana legalization will do the degradation of inner city, with stoned young people all over the place. Sadly, Trudeau's theory that legalization of marijuana is the best way to keep it away from young people, by keeping organized crime out of black-market sales, is right out of fantasyland. Everywhere it has been legalized organized criminal groups have quickly gotten involved to take part in huge profits and little risk of serious jail time. In Ontario, OC already have networks in place to distribute cigarettes and other commodities, meaning selling pot will be an easy transition. Recent arrests of Hell Angels involved in blackmarket sales of medical marihuana show how out of touch Trudeau's views are with reality. [continues 155 words]
As Justin Trudeau's Liberal government tables its long-awaited marijuana legislation, Canada's doctors have a message about pot: Just because it will eventually be legal doesn't mean it's safe. The Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Psychiatric Association, the Canadian Paediatric Society and other organizations representing front-line health-care providers have been busy broadcasting their concerns about the ill effects of cannabis, especially for chronic smokers under the age of 25. "We're saying: 'Please keep the public-health focus front of mind as this legislation is unrolled,' " said Gail Beck, the clinical director of youth psychiatry at the Royal, a psychiatric hospital in Ottawa. "Lots of people think this is harmless." [continues 672 words]
Logistics are complicated, but province fears the social costs The province will table its own legislation in response to Ottawa's plans to legalize recreational marijuana and is forming a common front with Ontario to draft an action plan to deal with the expected sweeping negative social consequences. Emerging from a meeting of cabinet where the federal government's plan was analyzed at length, Public Health and Youth Protection Minister Lucie Charlebois said Quebec is moving rapidly to respond to deepening concerns - inside government and out - about the increased availability of pot. [continues 1031 words]
Tomorrow, the Liberal Government of Justin Trudeau is expected to fulfill one of its most well-publicised campaign promises and present its much anticipated legislation to legalize the possession and use of cannabis for recreational purposes. Why they couldn't wait another week until April 20 (420) is a question worth pondering, but then again, that might have required a sense of humour. The history of drug prohibition in Canada goes back to the early 20th Century when authorities became concerned about the use of certain substances among Asian immigrant communities. Marijuana was added to the ever-increasing list of banned substances in the 1920s and once again, race was an integral component. Drug use became associated with decadence, jazz, racial mixing, and sexual license - all things designed to send shivers through middle-class society and its concept of propriety. [continues 951 words]
