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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, October 17, 2013 | 12 L iberal Leader Justin Trudeau recently admitted he smoked marijuana as an MP . He broke the law as a Member of Parliament and his own oath of office. Now he wants to legalize marijuana, but regulate it, claiming regulating marijuana would keep it out of the hands of children. This is a myth. Drug dealers who defy criminal laws with serious penalties would not magically comply with regulations on marijuana sales introduced by a Liberal government. They'd keep selling, just like bootleggers do. Regulations do not keep alcohol or tobacco away from minors. This is simply a vote grab in the 18-20-year-old demographic in Canada. Incredibly, Trudeau announced his policy to decriminalize marijuana in a speech at a high school in Prince Edward Island last November, which teens as young as age 14 attend. Yet, this is the same group who suffer the most from marijuana use. A recent report from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) documents the true risks of marijuana use in Ontario. Marijuana (cannabis) use amongst 18-29 year olds has almost doubled from 18.3 to 33.5 per cent from 1996 to 2011. Why is this a concern? 1. Because the marijuana sold today is 20 times stronger than the stuff my generation tried when they were in high school. It is mind numbing dope. The truth about marijuana: Terence Young Terence Young Oakville MP My View 2. Because the three most immediate and powerful effects of marijuana are confusion, memory loss and apathy, and constitute the most insidious way to prevent learning. 3. Much of the marijuana dealt in Ontario is laced with more powerful cocaine, PCP and other street drugs to cause addiction. 4. The CAMH study also shows 8.6 per cent of this age group drive vehicles after smoking cannabis, leading to vehicular and industrial accidents, injuries and sometimes death. 5. The odds of experiencing cannabis problems, such as health issues, dependence, work problems, financial, legal and relationship problems are six times higher among users in the 18-29-year-old group than those aged 30 and older. Canada's youths are at high risk from harmful drugs. They deserve to be protected and supported in their education and career choices, not led to believe mind-altering drugs are socially acceptable. However, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police has called for new enforcement options for simple possession of small amounts of marijuana in Canada. They say the justice system is overly burdened with a lengthy and difficult process resulting in a criminal conviction and record. I am not in favour of legalizing marijuana and neither is my government. However, I am open to the idea of new enforcement options as long as our young people get a consistent, clear message marijuana is an unhealthy drug that causes a lot of harm to individuals and society, and it is not more easily available. Here are a few key myths about marijuana and the facts that counter them. Myth: Marijuana is a harmless substance. Fact: Marijuana can cause heart palpitations, psychosis, weight gain/diabetes, emphysema, and is linked to cancer of the head, neck, lungs bladder and brain. The Lancet medical journal recently reported study results showing chronic cannabis use can cause mental health issues, heart disease and residual cognitive impairment. Last year, the British Lung Foundation determined marijuana smoke is 20 times more carcinogenic than tobacco smoke. Myth: Legalizing marijuana and regulating its sales will keep it out of the hands of children. Fact: Alcohol is legal and highly regulated in Ontario, yet more than $500 million worth of il- legal alcohol is sold every year in Ontario booze cans, after-hours clubs and to minors. Binge drinking amongst minors is a major substance abuse problem, and 54.9 per cent of students between Grades 7-12 drink alcohol illegally on occasion. Regulation is a clear failure for our youths. Myth: The Netherlands legalized marijuana with no problems. Fact: Drug Watch International reports "In the Netherlands, where de facto decriminalization is practised, there has been a 49 per cent rise in registered cannabis addicts between 199193. In 1988, there were three organized crime groups in that country. By 1993, there were 93. Seventy-three per cent of Dutch people think their drug laws are too tolerant. Cannabis use among students in Holland has increased by 250 per cent since 1984." My government has no intention of legalizing marijuana. However, the way marijuana laws against simple possession are enforced may be worthy of review. Please visit my website, www. terenceyoung.com, to tell me your view on these options: For simple possession of small amounts of marijuana, the law should: · Not be enforced. Marijuana should be legal · Be enforced as it is now · Be enforced more rigorously than it is now · Enforced as the Canadian Chiefs of Police are suggesting with fines as an option to reduce clogged courts and criminal records. 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