THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY

Dear Editor:

I am responding to an article written by Tasha Wiebe in the Jan. 26
issue of the World-Spectator "Should marijuana be decriminalized?"

I would like to firstly bring to awareness that there is a difference
between decriminalization and legalization.

Decriminalization means that anyone caught with marijuana for
"personal use" will be be charged criminally, however, they will be
given what would amount to a "ticket" similar to a traffic violation
or liquor charge.

With any amounts over this "personal use" amount a person is charged
criminally for possession under the Controlled Drugs and Substances
Act. If use or possession of marijuana were legalized, it would mean
that it would be okay for anyone to grow or possess marijuana in any
form.

Although Health Canada has implemented the Marijuana Medical Access
Regulations, which allow physicians to distribute the drug, Health
Canada is in the middle of a five-year study which began in 1999, to
determine the benefits and/or risks involved in using marijuana medically.

The Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Medical Protective
Association both remain "adamantly opposed to the use of medical
marijuana and are telling doctors not to get involved in any aspect of
it."

"We recommend they shouldn't distribute marijuana unless they truly
believe the benefits outweigh the disadvantages," said Dr. Douglas
Bell, managing director of the protective association's physician
services group. Most say the medical benefits of marijuana are
unproven, despite anecdotal evidence from users who say it works
wonders for them."

Studies have shown that the use of the active ingredi-ent in
marijuana, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, (commonly referred to as THC)
does show positive results in some patients.

When effective, it can reduce or eliminate nausea and vomiting in
patients suffering from terminal illnesses and cause an increase in
appetite, particularly for people living with AIDS.

However, even if marijuana is shown to provide exclusive benefits in
treating certain conditions, there is no need to approve marijuana use
for medical purposes. Patients can receive a synthetically created
version of THC through prescription drugs such as Marinol, while
marijuana must be smoked and can vary widely in its THC content,
making it very difficult to prescribe the correct dosage, Marinol is
taken in pill form that allows the carefully measured THC to be
time-released. Pharmaceutical drugs like Marinol are much safer than
marijuana.

With regards to Tasha's statement that "Marijuana is not a "gateway to
harder drugs," The World Health Organization states: "Abuse of
cannabis facilitates the association with social groups and
subcultures involved with more dangerous drugs, such as opiates or
barbiturates. Transition to the use of such drugs would be a
consequence of this association rather than an inherent affect of
cannabis." Therefore, anyone using marijuana in a situation where
other drugs are available, would be more likely to move transition
into use of the other drugs.

As I read through sections of the actual report of the
Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs: Cannabis;
which Tasha quotes, it states "On the Gateway Effect:
cannabis itself is not the cause of other drug use.

Cannabis itself can be a gateway because it is illegal, which puts
users in contact with other substances."

Tasha stated that " . . . another report stating the use of marijuana
is less harmful than alcohol." The amount of tar found in one
marijuana joint is 50 per cent more than that found in a strong
tobacco cigarette. Marijuana smokers tend to hold smoke in their lungs
longer, which causes more pulmonary damage. Much like tobacco smoking,
effects of regular marijuana smoking include chronic cough and phlegm,
chronic bronchitis symptoms, more chest colds and abnormal lung
functioning. Like alcohol, cannabis impairs judgment, interferes with
motor co-ordination, and reduces attention span. Marijuana's effects
also resemble those of alcohol in that they can affect a developing
unborn child.

Information on myths and realities of marijuana use, some of which I
have quoted above, can be found on the website familyfacts.ca.

Tasha alluded to the fact that there is another side to the issue.
However, she has only presented one side. What I am presenting here is
the other side of the argument regarding marijuana use, risks, myths
and realities.

There have been many studies done on both sides of the argument,
however, our federal government has chosen to pass on only some of the
information to the public, which does not allow the average person to
make an informed decision. The government is passing on a message to
the public about the risks involved in smoking and nicotine, and that
it can cause all types of health problems, and yet they are
decriminalizing marijuana for "personal use," which I believe sends
the message that it isn't as harmful as tobacco. This message might
actually encourage an increase in usage.

From Tasha's comments I believe and am pleased that the educational
programs we are giving our young people in school are getting across
the message that marijuana use is harmful and there are risks involved
in using; however, students are confused because of the mixed messages
they are getting from the media and government.

I believe that it's important that people hear both sides of an
argument so they can make educated, informed decisions.

Terry Romanow

Addictions Counsellor, Dr. Sinclair Jamieson Memorial Foundation