EDITOR:
If you believe second-hand marijuana smoke is not affecting you, think again! There isn’t any discussion on this but there needs to be. There’s a reason why government put restrictions on its use, and you have to be 21 (in the U.S.) to smoke it, vape, or consume cannabis. If you think breathing in second-hand marijuana smoke is nothing to be concerned about think again. We all are affected by second-hand marijuana exposure.
Colorado was the first U.S. state to legalize marijuana. The American Academy of Pediatrics did a study on second-hand marijuana exposure on children. Their first study showed that one in six children hospitalized for lung inflammation tested positive for second-hand marijuana exposure. Of these children, 16 per cent had traces of THC in their urine. Since 10 of the American states now permit recreational marijuana and 33 now permit medical marijuana, the results are much higher. New research found evidence of second-hand marijuana exposure in nearly half of the children whose parents smoke the drug. Forty-six per cent of the children had detectable levels of COOH-THC and 11 per cent had detectable levels of THC. THC is an indicator of recent and active exposure. Marijuana contains carcinogenic and psychoactive chemicals and may be a rising health concern. They said marijuana should never be smoked in the presence of children. Since Canada has now legalized marijuana, it will be a rising health concern for us as well. Smoking marijuana is only one health concern.
Then there’s the marijuana edibles. They look like candy to a child. Marijuana is a drug the same as every other prescription drug and needs to be out of reach of a small child. There needs to be more responsibility, just because marijuana is legal doesn’t mean it’s not affecting your child. Just because marijuana is legal doesn’t mean there isn’t any health risks. Remember when tobacco was first taxed, we didn’t have the information we do now. Something to think about. Yes, marijuana does have health benefits but when you light it, it becomes a health concern for the non-smoker.
Tamara MacDonald,
Charlottetown