Health committee  Thank you and good morning. My name is Dr. Serge Melanson. I am the chief of staff and an emergency room physician at Moncton Hospital here in New Brunswick. I'm speaking today on behalf of the New Brunswick Medical Society, a professional association representing more than 1,600

Health committee  Thank you, Ms. Gladu. Essentially, my first-hand experience as an emergency physician for the past 14 years has been recognizing an exponential increase in the usage of cannabis in patients presenting to the emergency department. Really highlighting your point on public awaren

Health committee  Ms. Sidhu, thank you for that important question. My reference to the lacing of cannabis was based on my historical experience with the fact that there is currently, as you know, no legalized market for cannabis. I would presume there would be some benefit in having this substa

Health committee  Again, it's about utilizing tools that youth and young people access. Here in New Brunswick—we're the New Brunswick Medical Society—we use electronic formats and also traditional means of getting the message to them that despite the legalization of cannabis there is still some de

Health committee  It's a very excellent question, Mr. Webber. I think that really underlines our lack of understanding of what the scientific value of cannabis truly is and its perhaps beneficial or harmful effects. You quite accurately pointed that out. Also, as a practising physician, I myself w

Health committee  I'll say a few things. Mr. Oliver. On your point that the New Brunswick Medical Society and I take a view of this through the lens of health care, that is essentially the lens through which we view most things. Your points on the legal ramifications, however, are very well take

Health committee  Agreed. I'm trying to point out that this demographic also represents, from a health perspective, the demographic in which we see major mental health problems first begin. I think the medical literature is quite clear.

Health committee  As you've pointed out, yes. We stand very strongly on the age of 21 and would not be prepared to lower that for fear of the health implications. As you also pointed out, it would seem as though there are legal abilities to get around the criminality, as long as the local and prov

Health committee  From a legal standpoint, I think that sounds perfectly reasonable. We would have to make sure that the messaging to our young people, young adults, which is also being lost in this discussion, is that by setting the age we are also taking into consideration the legal ramification

Health committee  Thank you again, Mr. Carrie. I agree with certain [Technical difficulty—Editor]

Health committee  Yes, I'm back. Sorry for the technical difficulties. I will be very brief. I wanted to point out that our experience here in New Brunswick has been, as you pointed out in your question, that the medical societies have needed to take a leadership role in this over the past year

Health committee  Thank you for the question, Dr. Eyolfson. My understanding from other jurisdictions is that by decriminalizing and legalizing cannabis, those districts have seen increased reported use of cannabis, whether that actually translates in actual usage.... But I think the evidence wou

Health committee  That's interesting. In fact, that probably would give me pause to go back to my own references, which I'm afraid I don't have available, but perhaps I would defer your questions to the other members of the panel who have, perhaps, a bit more experience and may be able to referenc