Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Marijuana commentary not based on evidence

Re: “We shouldn’t ignore the effects of marijuana,” April 20. The writer states he is bringing forward evidence-based information. He did not. As a GP for 43 years, I have read both evidence-based and emotion-based articles on marijuana.

Re: “We shouldn’t ignore the effects of marijuana,” April 20.

The writer states he is bringing forward evidence-based information. He did not.

As a GP for 43 years, I have read both evidence-based and emotion-based articles on marijuana. Michel Perron’s commentary was emotion-based.

Marijuana as cause of psychosis is controversial — the user could be experiencing decreased anxiety or depression from marijuana: “reverse causality.” Respiratory difficulties and lung cancer have not been established — quite the opposite.

Studies have shown marijuana to decrease anxiety, decrease depression, increase hippocampus brain volume and maintain cognitive function in aging adults.

Paul Brigel, MD

Victoria