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Quebec psychiatrists are warning the federal government’s proposed legislation legalizing marijuana is, in its present form, unacceptable and could endanger the mental health of young people.
Karine Igartua, president of the Association des médecins psychiatres du Québec (AMPQ) says that scientific research proves that the human brain continues to develop for the first 25 years of life, and that the consumption marijuana during this period involves enormous risks.
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Among those risks are attention deficit disorder, memory loss and a deterioration in the brain’s ability to process information. Igartua says that in many cases, scans have shown lesions on the brain caused by tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an element of cannabis.
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She said the risk of psychosis increases by 40 per cent among those who use marijuana over the their lifetime and that consumption can trigger the onset of the disease.
In Igartua’s opinion, raising the proposed minimum age for marijuana consumption to 21 from 18 would still allow for a reduction of black market sales while protecting future generations.
Furthermore, the AMPQ is calling for THC levels in legal marijuana to be clearly indicated on any packaging in Canada, and that a ban be imposed on advertising promoting it use. The group also wants courses explaining the consequences of drug use to become part of Quebec’s high school curriculum.
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Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.