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害羞草研究所檛 exist.
So for doctors, Ruddiman says the potential legalization of marijuana leaves the medical community taking a very guarded position.
害羞草研究所淔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,害羞草研究所� said Ruddiman.
害羞草研究所淪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.
害羞草研究所淭he biggest red flag for us right now is this could do more harm than good.害羞草研究所�
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害羞草研究所檛 fully developed until a person reaches age 25, and how that might be negatively impeded by regular marijuana use.
害羞草研究所淚 think the biggest concern for us is the potential exposure of the marijuana drug and chemical to children and youth,害羞草研究所� said Ruddiman, who has operated his physician practice in Oliver for the past 21 years.
害羞草研究所淲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.害羞草研究所�
Ruddiman says the debate about regulations and distribution control of marijuana has been experienced before.
害羞草研究所淲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.害羞草研究所�
What doctors do know, Ruddiman added, is that marijuana use can impair one害羞草研究所檚 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.
害羞草研究所淲e have to be careful about anecdotal evidence, that one person害羞草研究所檚 experience is not science. We call that the value of the placebo effect害羞草研究所nd we know as well that smoking itself is a dangerous delivery system.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淲e know from scientific testing doctors don害羞草研究所檛 harm or hurt a patient by taking prescribed medication but unfortunately with marijuana we don害羞草研究所檛 have that same kind of evidence to fall back on,害羞草研究所� he said.
Key recommendations from marijuana legalization task force
害羞草研究所� Set a national minimum age of purchase of 18, harmonized with the minimum age for buying alcohol.
害羞草研究所� Apply comprehensive restrictions to advertising and marketing.
害羞草研究所� Require plain packaging and prohibit any product deemed to be 害羞草研究所渁ppealing to children.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所� Set a maximum amount for THC (the active ingredient in cannabis)
害羞草研究所� Prohibit mixed products such as cannabis-infused alcoholic beverages or cannabis products with tobacco, nicotine or caffeine.
害羞草研究所� Introduce public education strategies to inform about cannabis risks.
害羞草研究所� Use revenue as a source of funding for administration, education, prevention, research, enforcement and treatment.
害羞草研究所� Allow dedicated storefronts located appropriate distances from schools, community centres and parks.
害羞草研究所� Permit a direct-to-consumer mail-order system.
害羞草研究所� Allow personal cultivation for non-medical purposes with a limit of four plants per residence and a maximum plant height of 100 cm.
害羞草研究所� Extend current restrictions on public smoking of tobacco to the smoking of cannabis and to cannabis vamping products.
