Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Early this year, UNICEF revealed that more Canadian kids smoke marijuana than anywhere else in the western world and Prime Minister Stephen Harper is cracking jokes about Sir John A. Macdonald and Harper’s own sobriety.
The report ranked Canada first out of 29 countries on the percentage of young people smoking pot — 28 per cent of 11- to 15-year-old Canadians said they had smoked marijuana during the last year. This is an embarrassment for our country and a very sad comment on the effect the Harper government has had on prevention and education.
This is a public-health crisis and political pundits are arguing over legalization and decriminalization when the majority of the pot market is under age and will continue to be regardless of effort to legalize. The legalization of marijuana could well increase access and availability to the youth market and enhance not dilute the criminal distribution of pot in Canada.
Anyone who downplays the risks and harm marijuana poses to youth will at some point in the near future be called out. In the meantime, where are Health Canada and the advocates for public health in this country? Politicians, sit down until this country has had a chance to discuss the issue in depth and say no if someone asks you to sign a call for referendum at this time.
Pamela McColl, Vancouver
The editorial pages editor is Gordon Clark, who can be reached at gclark@theprovince.com. Letters to the editor can be sent to provletters@theprovince.com.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
