Health Committee on May 13th, 2014

[Philippe Lucas]

On the health risks while under acute intoxication, I think we've discussed this at this table and we've heard about this. It affects attention span. It affects memory and learning during the execute stage—so while you're under the intoxication of cannabis. Those would be a concern. I think—

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

Mr. Walsh, do you have any other health risks that you're aware of from the recreational use of marijuana?

[Dr. Zach Walsh]

I think there's some evidence for short-term irritation of the lungs, such as acute bronchitis, although the evidence doesn't suggest that there are serious long-term effects on pulmonary function and respiratory function. Certainly there's short-term irritation. There are the acute effects on cognition so that while people are intoxicated on cannabis, there's cognitive interference with memory and attention as well.

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

At what age would you say individuals should or could meaningfully engage in the recreational use of cannabis?

[Dr. Zach Walsh]

I think—

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

When do you think they can consent?

[Dr. Zach Walsh]

I think the standards we use for alcohol are all right, so somewhere between 18 and 21 would be a reasonable age, based on when we allow people to engage in behaviours for which they can weigh the risks and benefits and make choices given that those risks are not too severe relative to other things we allow people to do.

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

Mr. Walsh, are you aware of any scientific studies that differentiate between the health risks for a developing 15-year-old mind and the health risks for a developing 18-year-old mind when recreationally abusing marijuana?

[Dr. Zach Walsh]

I think, again, we need more research, because we haven't been able to pin down exactly what the differences are according to those ages.

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

Some of the testimony you've presented today said that, for instance, health care costs for people who use marijuana are lower than are those for the general public. You've also presented that, for instance, people have less anxiety. They tend to have higher incomes.

I was wondering. I have this eight-year-old little boy who has asthma and he has some respiratory illnesses. The science that you cited earlier today said that in fact they have less respiratory illness. I'm wondering if I should start offering marijuana to my eight-year-old because it would lead to higher income for him one day. You don't think it should be for 8-year-olds or 12-year-olds or 14-year-olds, but we should study if it's okay for 15- to 18-year-olds. I'm just trying to get to what the science would be.

[Dr. Zach Walsh]

Certainly my hope would be for your child to live a long drug-free life without the need for any substance. But if he were to need medication, I would hope—

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

No, I'm talking about the recreational use, if I might just address that. Today's testimony has really muddied the medical—

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Libby Davies]

We have a point of order.

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

This is about the fourth time I have noticed my colleague asking a question and not waiting for the witness to even finish the first part of a sentence before cutting in again. Could we hear the answers?

Thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Libby Davies]

I don't think it's a point of order, but I think it would be respectful to the witness to allow them to respond briefly to your questions.

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

Absolutely, Madam Chair. However, my question was about the recreational use of marijuana, and he started to go down medical use. That's why I interjected to say I'd like to clarify that these are really two distinct things we're talking about.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Libby Davies]

Would you like to clarify your question then?

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

Sure.

Throughout today's committee meeting, we've been sort of muddying and going back and forth over the medical use of marijuana versus the recreational use. I think all reasonable people would concede that there really are two distinct uses there inasmuch as perhaps you might be required to have opiates if you are a cancer patient, but I don't think anyone reasonably thinks that opiates should be available at corner stores or that we should just make them available recreationally to 18-year-olds or 19-year-olds. I think there are two distinct uses, obviously. We do find ourselves in this court-mandated medical marijuana situation.

I want to pop back to my earlier question to you, which is really, genuinely what our entire study here is about. That is on the health risks of marijuana. You presented at length about possible medicinal benefits or pain reduction, but we're really here to talk about some of those health risks. At one point you indicated that, in fact, there is less respiratory illness amongst those who smoke marijuana, which I find very difficult to comprehend, simply because I would imagine that anything you're inhaling, especially if it's carcinogenic, could not be healthy for you.

[Dr. Zach Walsh]

I believe it was Mr. Lucas who described that study you referred to. It was comparing cannabis users to tobacco users and people who use tobacco and cannabis versus cannabis alone.

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

That was the other interesting study you cited, stating that folks who are using cannabis might not be consuming as much alcohol. That might be a confound. I'm certainly not a doctor, as you are not a doctor. Neither of you are doctors.

[Dr. Zach Walsh]

I'm a doctor who helps train doctors.

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

You're not a medical doctor.

[Dr. Zach Walsh]

No, I'm not.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Libby Davies]

Actually you're over the five minutes.

I would like to ask the committee something. On the rotation, we would normally go back to another Conservative member, but because Ms. Fry came late and she hasn't had a question, and you've each had a question, you are technically allowed another question right now or we could go to Ms. Fry.

[Terence Young, Conservative, Oakville, ON]

I'd prefer to use my time; I'm prepared. Thank you.