Health committee  Yes, we can provide that.

Health committee  There were indeed some interesting statistics that the experts provided yesterday at the ministerial round table on impairment. If the committee doesn't get enough information from the experts, we'll be happy to follow up and provide it. But there were some alarming statistics about recent studies that show the number of automobile fatalities where, in fact, the individual was not alcohol impaired but marijuana impaired, not just among youth but high levels among youth—and again growing rates.

Health committee  I would just simply say that we look at marijuana the same way as we look at other substances that can have harms. We have scheduling criteria that we examine the substance against, which include things like evidence of abuse, addiction liability, risks to personal and public health and safety, as well as issues around legitimate use; and marijuana meets those criteria to be scheduled.

Health committee  That is true. I have heard the scientists say that. I understand that it's—as many of these things are—a complex interaction between genetic predisposition, age of onset, frequency of use—

Health committee  The scientists, I think, will tell you that it's true. Yes, there has to be some genetic predisposition.

Health committee  Thank you. I'll just start with the second first, if I might. It's just simply to say that marijuana is regulated in Canada. It's regulated under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. It meets the scheduling criteria to be made illegal, with the exception of the medical marijuana program, which is enabled under a special set of regulations.

Health committee  Thank you for the question. It is true that when it comes to dried marijuana, the regime that exists is as a result of various court decisions over the years, and it is true that dried marijuana has not gone through the clinical trials, etc., and the rigorous process that is required for any other prescription medication in this country.

Health committee  Thank you very much. In general, the health risks to young people have to do with their developing brains. It's a combination of the fact that it can—through a complex interaction, which the scientists will be able to explain to you much more specifically—have long-term lasting structural effects on their brains, which could then have long-term lasting effects in terms of their executive functioning, etc., as they go through their lives.

Health committee  I understand that you'll be hearing from the CCSA or representatives of it shortly. They no doubt will be able to give you a more detailed response to your question. I think what you'll be hearing from the experts is that there is an emerging field of evidence about the specific and particular harms of marijuana to youth related to the developing brain, and that those effects can have a lasting impact for many years, and potentially for the rest of their lives.

Health committee  I would respectfully suggest that this would be a question that the scientific experts would best be able to answer. What I can tell you is that the research shows that the earlier you start marijuana use, the riskier it is. Certainly at the round table yesterday with the minister, where there were many experts, they were talking in the range of early to mid-twenties.

Health committee  Thank you for your question. In terms of the specific harms to an individual and pills versus smoking marijuana, I'm afraid I'm not a physician and I don't feel qualified to answer that specific question. I guess what I will say is that there is a regime to make dried marijuana for medical purposes available to Canadians, with the support of their health care provider, if they and their health care provider feel that is what is best for them.

Health committee  Thank you for the question. I think I just have to, I'm afraid, make a similar response to the first, which is that I'm not a physician. Those decisions are made between a patient and his or her physician, and the physician is in the best position to assess other alternative treatments and whether, in fact, marijuana for medical use is in the best interests of that patient.

Health committee  No, it's just me.

Health committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair, for the opportunity to appear before the committee to discuss the health risks of marijuana use. My name is Hilary Geller. I'm the assistant deputy minister of the healthy environments and consumer safety branch at Health Canada. My colleagues are responsible for various programming aspects that collectively support the government's ongoing efforts to protect Canadians from the health risks associated with illicit drug use.