[quote]I just don't know how you can talk about psychosis and suicide and not be at least a little passionate about it.[/quote] You can go the **** for TLDR I am extremely passionate about this. Initially, because of my brother, and seeing all the people in the psychiatric inpatient unit harmed by it, I was against it. But, recently, the Dutch stabilized their rates; mainly through harm reduction, and maxing the THC at 15 percent, and informing the public. Also, since no private sector in Holland, no private companies can make any complaints when they made the sale of marijuana more restricted. I am very passionate about this, this is why I chose to become a psychiatrist, but seeing some psychiatrists' saying if weed is controlled, and by using government monopolies, all of this money can go into public education programs, and create interventions for adolescents who are heavy smokers (like my brother) and do early treatments, I can support this system of legalization. But personally, I do not care about strict legality vs decriminalization, because under both of these systems, there is going to be a lot of education programs, to prevent teens from using it, and in Holland, this has achieved success. The reason I am agnostic on the issue of legalization is because it is a commonly used drug, and a lot of people can smoke it without getting any harm. But there is a vulnerable minority which marijuana can trigger psychosis, and I think this needs to be addressed. I'd prefer decriminalization (so people aren't made criminals for smoking it) or strict regulation. I should have clarified, since I am Canadian, it doesn't work like America, only the federal government (not the public) can change the law, so doctors have a say. In America, I am opposed to it, because with state ballots, no doctors have any say. I'll clarify, if I were to be an American, I would be opposed right now, but in Canada, I know there are top tier medical teams that inform the government, so legal or not, people like my brother and the others I've met; they will be accounted for in a determination of what legal status weed is given. Another reason is the legal teams that advised the doctors say, if legal weed is allow to proceed in America, it will be more strict than right now as they develop newer forms of regulation. This is why I don't really care if weed is legal or not; the professionals said that, either weed is going to be strictly regulated (no advertising, no private companies), and a lot of education programs. I am sorry, I should have clarified this. What is going on now, in an unregulated environment in Colorado, I am opposed to that. Tobacco and Alcohol companies may not be as strong as I thought they were, but I stand by the stance is that it makes regulating a substance harder, when there is pressure from the private sector. Which is why I like the Dutch system and CAMH's position, their methods forbid private entrepreneurs. So in regard, to not being a little bit passionate, I know, if it's legal, they (the Canadian government) are going to follow the new Dutch system (they explicitly said they will follow CAMH's model), at the very least and focus on education and treatment if weed is still allowed to be legal, and prevent teens from using it. If there is a private sector for weed, it would be harder for the doctors' to send their message, which is why I think if weed is going to be legal, Holland's new system of regulation is best; because it focuses on harm reduction. This is why I am a fan of CAMH's position (and one doctor who was a part of the committee who wrote that report said half of his patients have suffered because of weed); they are balancing the harms it does to some, and the pleasure others get from it. This is a doctor who probably deals with people like my brother on a daily basis. But if I had my way, again, there would be less talk until legalization as society, as a whole, accepts weed, like tobacco and alcohol, has negative effects on some. In Canada, I don't have to worry about legality, because some organziations like CAMH explicitly said they will make sure they will balance the harm weed does to people like my brother, and the joy others experience from it. I know, either way, the pain of psychosis I have felt, and others, the Canadian government will account for that when they devise a platform for legal marijuana. *****So in summary, I am passionate about this (being through the experience of someone with psychosis led me to becoming a psychiatrist) but I know, north of the border, here in Canada, any legalization platform will be much more strict (because the government, at the council of psychiatric experts, will follow there advice, and try to minimize the risk it does to people like my brother), and (like the new Dutch system) account for the people weed can harm. If weed is not to be legalized, the Prime Minister candidates said they will still make an education program. If I were American, I would oppose marijuana legalization in any state except Washington and Colorado, to see if the American government can try to follow the new Dutch system (the Dutch system is much more strict than Colorado's, America's states that legalize weed officially have the most liberal marijuana laws in the world). I should have clarified this earlier.

And even the Canadian government is doing it for the money, at least they are listening to the doctors, and giving them money for education programs straight up. And that's where I'll leave you with my final stance: I only will support decriminalization, or the model the CAMH has provided. And that is based off of the Dutch model, somewhat, where weed (under strict controls) sale along with education and harm reduction programs, has lowered use.

They can exclude countries for breaking their treaties. This is kinda what is happening to Uruguay, the president is being excluded a lot recently. Regardless, if governments were doing this for the $$$$, Attorney General Eric Holder (if teen use goes up, we will sue the states that legalize weed). Yes countries can dissent, but still, the UN, can impose criminal sanctions on them. Even though Uruguay is trying to urge them to take more progressive stance, they are apparently treating him like shit right now. Regardless, the Canadian government said it will focus on harm reduction, if they want the $$$, at least they are minimizing its harms (banning THC content over 15 percent, not selling ring pots, banning advertising). And seeing as the Prime Minister candidate's mom developed bipolar disorder because she smoked a lot of pot as a teen, I think he is sincere.

Regardless, the Canadian government promised the doctors here they will be educating the public. And they explicitly said no advertising and weed no more than 15 percent THC. Even if the government is making money off of it; they said, they will try to minimize the harms; like the Dutch government is. The Dutch cannabis use rates (among teens, at least) have now stabilized, this is all I need to know, is they will try to prevent teens from using it. Teens are much more susceptible to the negative effects of marijuana, and this is when a lot of the people who develop psychosis start smoking it. All I want is teen use to go down. "Put whatever spin you want on it, it's still there." It is still there, but the United Nation's INCB (drug watch) committee, said they will be paying very very close attention the cannabis use rates in the countries that legalize weed. And remember, they have the authority to impose criminal sanctions, and sue any country that legalizes weed. If they aren't practicing harm reduction (decreasing the use, especially among teens); they can get in trouble with the UN. Regardless, here in Canada, the government said it's following the Dutch model if weed is legal. The Dutch have much more stable cannabis rates than we do.........the government said they are going to make a high profile education program and prevention programs to deal with the fact that a lot of kids smoke weed here./ Regardless if they are doing it for the money, they said they will definitely focusing on reducing the effects of weed on teen brains; which I told you before, is the only thing I care about.