Veterans Affairs committee  Good afternoon, and thank you for inviting me to present. It's a real privilege. In terms of background, I'm a researcher in cannabis and mental health and a tenured psychology professor at the University of British Columbia where I study issues related to the use of substances

Health committee  If I could add to that, I think that it would also provide a better tone to our dialogue with young people if we accurately communicated risks and harms. I am also concerned that our current approach of prohibition hasn't prevented people from using cannabis at all, but it has ca

Health committee  No, I think that's an excellent summary. In particular, what I've heard in regard to some of the anti-nausea effects is that it's perhaps the most effective anti-nausea agent, particularly for people who have HIV/AIDS-related wasting and also for cancer sufferers who are dealin

Health committee  There's an absence of evidence of physical health risks. I noted some risks associated with schizophrenia. As far as violence goes, I see an absence of evidence. As far as anxiety goes, I see an absence of evidence. As far as long-term cognitive deficits, I see an absence of ev

Health committee  Oh, I'm not trying to minimize them; I'm trying to accurately convey them. It's hard for me to answer a question of why I would minimize them when that's not what I'm attempting to do.

Health committee  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—

Health committee  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.

Health committee  I'm a doctor who helps train doctors.

Health committee  No, I'm not.

Health committee  No, I haven't done any of those studies.

Health committee  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 ac

Health committee  I think—

Health committee  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 relat

Health committee  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.

Health committee  My findings are based on a comprehensive review of the empirical literature, on my expertise as a professor at UBC, where I teach the course on drugs and behaviour, and on my considerable experience in treating mental health and addiction.