MARIJUANA AS MEDICINE A MYTH

Editor, The News:

Recent news reports feature a lawsuit against Abbotsford Police for
busting an alleged "medical marijuana" grow op.

This neat little loophole is beginning to cause havoc with
historically lawful seizures, and is enabling addicts to drive a truck
through perfectly reasonable laws designed to protect healthy society.

The psychotic effects of prolonged use have long been well known to
medical professionals worldwide.

Also well known are the impairment effects of cannabis use on drivers,
which extrapolates to equipment and machinery operators in the workplace.

Recently the British Journal of Psychiatry reports on a Finnish study
from the University of Oulo. This study found that teenage cannabis
users are more likely to suffer psychotic symptoms and have a greater
risk of developing schizophrenia later in life.

An Australian study found that four of five people with severe
schizophrenia had been regular pot smokers in their youth.

In 2004 Dr. Cyril D'Souza, of Yale University stated the THC component
of marijuana caused schizophrenia-like symptoms in users.

Neuropsychologist Dr. Yucel of the University of Melbourne has just
completed a study of 15 volunteers who admitted to daily pot use over
the previous 10 years. MRI scans showed that on average the sample
smokers' hippocampus, thought to be part of the brain that controls
emotion and memory, was 12 per cent smaller than the average non-smoker.

He also found that the amygdala, thought to control fear and
aggression, was seven per cent smaller.

Thus it appears parts of their brains are shrinking.

In 1980 I was in Sydney Australia doing media research. The
"Australian" National newspaper carried a report on a study done by an
emergency room doctor from Sydney's largest Hospital. Samples from
fatally injured vehicle drivers over a one year period showed 45 per
cent of them had THC in their bloodstream.

Despite these reports, far be it from me to suggest pot addicts are
partially brain dead.

The studies can speak for themselves.

A primary concern for a healthy society with socialized medicine
should be the eventual costs of treating the developing psychosis and
schizophrenia already in the pipeline from years of abuse.

Compound this with the negative impact and costs to society of vehicle
and equipment operators operating under the influence of THC.

To date I have not seen one responsible "medical marijuana" user
surrender his or her drivers licence or offer to take care of
themselves when the psychosis eventually surfaces.

As cannabis has been used widely since the 60's, we are facing
billions in unnecessary costs.

Plus, local taxpayers now have to pay the costs to defend civil suits
against the police.

It is well past time for the myth of medical marijuana to be
busted.

DAVID GREENHALGH

Abbotsford