The argument for legalization of marijuana from a health perspective is very weak, says the president of Doctors of BC.
Dr. Alan Ruddiman says while the harms associated with marijuana are well established, the research science behind the benefits of cannabis doesn香蕉视频直播檛 exist.
So for doctors, Ruddiman says the potential legalization of marijuana leaves the medical community taking a very guarded position.
香蕉视频直播淔rom a health concern perspective, we realize the prime minister made legalization part of his election campaign and he was elected, so we are going down this path now as a society,香蕉视频直播� said Ruddiman.
香蕉视频直播淪o we now have to look to the thoughtfulness of the federal government moving forward and carrying out the broad consultation needed to determine how to roll this out to society.
香蕉视频直播淭he biggest red flag for us right now is this could do more harm than good.香蕉视频直播�
This week, the federal government is expected to introduce legislation based on a 106-page report titled The Framework for the Legalization and Regulation of Cannabis in Canada.
That report provided some 80 recommendations on how the federal Liberal government should proceed.
Ruddiman says his association stands by the recommendation of the Canadian Medical Association that Canadians under the age of 21 not be allowed to legally smoke or obtain marijuana, and that regulations should be in place to restrict quantity and the potency the the drug.
He says that recommendation speaks to how the human brain isn香蕉视频直播檛 fully developed until a person reaches age 25, and how that might be negatively impeded by regular marijuana use.
香蕉视频直播淚 think the biggest concern for us is the potential exposure of the marijuana drug and chemical to children and youth,香蕉视频直播� said Ruddiman, who has operated his physician practice in Oliver for the past 21 years.
香蕉视频直播淲hen it comes to a developing brain and a developing mind, the research has not been done to tell us what the potential harms or extent of those harms could be if society embraces this as a legalized recreational drug.香蕉视频直播�
Ruddiman says the debate about regulations and distribution control of marijuana has been experienced before.
香蕉视频直播淲e went through this when prohibition was ended in the 1930s and again when dealing with the risks of smoking. So we are going to go through this exercise one more time and we need the science research to help us better understand the broad range of risks involved.香蕉视频直播�
What doctors do know, Ruddiman added, is that marijuana use can impair one香蕉视频直播檚 ability to drive a motor vehicle, increase accidents in general, induce poor psychological performances for youth, exacerbate drug addiction and dependency issues, and present health condition problems for pregnant women and people with diabetes, emphysema and cardio vascular diseases.
He says doctors acknowledge that cannabis can be helpful for certain conditions, specifically neuropathic pain and excessive vomiting or nausea for cancer patients, but there is no evidence to say it is medically effective beyond that.
香蕉视频直播淲e have to be careful about anecdotal evidence, that one person香蕉视频直播檚 experience is not science. We call that the value of the placebo effect香蕉视频直播nd we know as well that smoking itself is a dangerous delivery system.香蕉视频直播�
Ruddiman said while there is much discussion about the impact of prescription drugs on our personal health care, such drugs must be put through rigorous tests and trials before being approved by Health Canada.
香蕉视频直播淲e know from scientific testing doctors don香蕉视频直播檛 harm or hurt a patient by taking prescribed medication but unfortunately with marijuana we don香蕉视频直播檛 have that same kind of evidence to fall back on,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Key recommendations from marijuana legalization task force
香蕉视频直播� Set a national minimum age of purchase of 18, harmonized with the minimum age for buying alcohol.
香蕉视频直播� Apply comprehensive restrictions to advertising and marketing.
香蕉视频直播� Require plain packaging and prohibit any product deemed to be 香蕉视频直播渁ppealing to children.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播� Set a maximum amount for THC (the active ingredient in cannabis)
香蕉视频直播� Prohibit mixed products such as cannabis-infused alcoholic beverages or cannabis products with tobacco, nicotine or caffeine.
香蕉视频直播� Introduce public education strategies to inform about cannabis risks.
香蕉视频直播� Use revenue as a source of funding for administration, education, prevention, research, enforcement and treatment.
香蕉视频直播� Allow dedicated storefronts located appropriate distances from schools, community centres and parks.
香蕉视频直播� Permit a direct-to-consumer mail-order system.
香蕉视频直播� Allow personal cultivation for non-medical purposes with a limit of four plants per residence and a maximum plant height of 100 cm.
香蕉视频直播� Extend current restrictions on public smoking of tobacco to the smoking of cannabis and to cannabis vamping products.
