MARIJUANA NOT OK: CMA BOSS

The president of the Canadian Medical Association says he fears the
government policy of allowing medical marijuana use may also encourage
recreational use, which he strongly opposes.

"We have to be very careful that it's not going to end up being thought
that this is a normal societal behaviour to smoke marijuana," Henry Haddad
told a Senate committee yesterday.

Still, the medical association has long been in favour of decriminalizing
simple possession, and Haddad supplied a new argument, saying a criminal
conviction damages health.

"Each year thousands of teens and adults receive criminal records for
possession. To the degree that having a criminal record limits or handicaps
employment prospects, the impact on health status is profound."

Arguing against recreational use, Haddad said marijuana damages the lungs,
can be addictive in about 5% of users, is associated with lower school
marks and may result in lost life opportunities.

Sen. Pierre Claude Nolin, chairman of the committee studying the use of
illegal drugs, said a third of medical students have tried marijuana, and
asked Haddad if they had failed in their lives.

Medical practitioners have the same problems as the rest of the population,
Haddad countered.

He said decriminalization must be tied to a national drug strategy that
promotes awareness, prevention and treatment as well as research and
monitoring.