As many of you are aware the Canadian government has agreed to legalize marijuana. Subsequently, it has caused much controversy by a wide variety of organizations. From school boards to health care providers to human resources to insurance companies and drug rehab centers just to name a few. All have a say in this complex issue.
Though there are limited benefits to the legalization of marijuana, it is a matter of time before this solution starts generating new problems. In fact, this is exactly what it’s doing. Many of the above-mentioned interest groups are concerned about the ways this law will affect their ability to control their respective areas. Pot is a mind-altering substance, if you are unsure about this then smoking a joint will change your mind. You will feel and act differently than prior to the joint.
There are so many questions to be answered. What about the addiction treatment facility that deals with people struggling with addiction to opiates or alcohol? How can they safely accept a person who is prescribed a daily dose of marijuana in or around their facility? How can we get around this? I suppose that there is some benefit to smoking pot, it’s just not clear if it is best for all aspects of living. Even as this text is written, there are laws with drinking under the influence that now includes being high from any drug, including pot. So if the transport department deems it necessary to include drugs in their law, it’s only reasonable to assume there is some risk in consuming pot.
Some statistics from the State of Colorado where recreational marijuana was legalized in November 2012, are as follows.
- Marijuana-related traffic deaths increased by 154 percent between 2006 and 2014;
- emergency room hospital visits that were “likely related” to marijuana increased by 77 percent from 2011 to 2014; and
- drug-related suspensions or expulsions increased 40 percent from school years 2008/2009 to 2013/2014.
Even if the Canadian Federal Government actually leaves it up to your provincial government to dictate how the federal law will be applied; the problems remain. But you have a voice, you can make a change, you can alter the outcome. Write to your political representative, write to your human resources department, tell your doctor to make a stand. You can start weekly drug education programs in your neighbourhood or local organizations.
Make your voice count, it will get heard and many voices are what make the world a better place, history has multiple examples of this. If you need help with someone’s addiction to Marijuana or other drugs contact one of our private drug rehab center referral addiction counsellors.
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