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• substantial evidence linking increases in cannabis use frequency with “progression to problem cannabis use”.

With all that, how can any responsible public official rush into loosening controls on marijuana without thoroughly considering the negative impacts on people and society, especially when the loudest chorus for the policy change is coming from the mostly illegal marijuana industry that stands to massively profit? Why is anyone listening to them and their claims?

The new study, for example, found “limited evidence” that cannabis is effective at treating weight loss in HIV/AIDS patients, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, dementia, glaucoma, depression, cancer, anorexia, irritable bowel syndrome, epilepsy … and on an on.

For the most part, the medical marijuana industry is a fraud. It’s making false claims to sell pot because people like to get high. I just wish everyone would own up to that fact. And I say that as someone who has long support decriminalization because with so many people using marijuana it makes no sense saddling people with criminal records over relatively innocuous behaviour. But that’s a far cry from legalizing the drug, or celebrating its use as so many people now do.

Look at Colorado. In almost any way it can be measured, increased marijuana use is causing a host of societal problems, including higher rates of marijuana-impaired driving, pot use by teenagers and young adults, school drop-out rates, marijuana-related hospital visits, and accidental exposure of the drug to children.