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No fear when cannabis comes to town

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Taryn Brandell

Whitecourt Star

It has been a controversial topic of discussion for years and this summer in Canada it's finally happening the legalization of marijuana.

There has always been this fear of legalized cannabis use, starting in the 1930's due to a campaign by Harry Anslinger, the first Commissioner of Federal Bureau of Narcotics in the United States.

He claimed that “marijuana is the most violent drug in the history of mankind” and that it “leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing.” Seems a little dramatic if you ask me. Especially when you compare it to the effect alcohol and harder drugs have on a person's state of mind.

I'm not denying that marijuana affects brain activity, that it may change the way a person thinks or acts and can create greater problems. The issue I have is that this is a popular reason people use to protest its legalization.

In a statement released by the Liberal Party of Canada, they discuss the failure of the current system of marijuana prohibition. It doesn't prevent Canadians from using and “far too many Canadians end up with criminal records for these non-violent offences.”

They also identified that, “proceeds from illegal drug trade support organized crime and greater threats like human trafficking and hard drugs.”

Alcohol, a legal substance, affects how a person behaves and thinks and, in fact, does cause a large number of problems in society today.

In Canada, car crashes involving drugs and alcohol are one of the leading causes of death. It's true a number of those are related to the use of marijuana, but that shouldn't be a reason to keep it illegal when an even larger number of those collisions involve alcohol and legal medications.

There are also health concerns with marijuana. Some people believe its prolonged use could lead to an early death, even though there are worse legal addictions, with a much higher fatally rate. Cigarettes for example, the leading cause of lung cancer in the world, aren't illegal. It's advised people don't do it but no law has been put forth forbidding it.

In reality, anything can lead to an overdose or death if not taken in moderation. Drugs, alcohol, sugar, even water when taken to the extreme. It's important to understand the boundaries of these substances and know the limits.

As long as the government puts proper regulations in place regarding the use of marijuana, similar to those regarding the use of alcohol and other controlled substances, I don't have any major issues with it.

I believe a number of locals will benefit from the Compass Cannabis Clinic coming to Whitecourt this May. Medical use of marijuana is something I support (under supervision), especially in regards to chemotherapy patients and those with chronic pain. My mother is a cancer survivor and the use of medical marijuana would have made going through the treatment a lot easier for her.

Legalizing and regulating access to marijuana is a decision made by the federal government that will, hopefully, keep the substance controlled and help improve public safety.

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