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Hi, I am Campbell Baron and today I am going to talk
to you about Marijuana...again.
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Reporter:
marijuana but the question is:
What will be the legal age to obtain it?
Woman's voice:
Baron: On October 17th 2018 recreational marijuana
will be legalized in Canada, but you already know that
because you watched this video...
Okay, so as long as I have been alive,
using marijuana recreationally and not for medical reasons
has been a crime.
This is Marijuana - Part 2.
But if you haven't seen Marijuana - Part 1,
watch that first, then come back.
This video is going to highlight a few
of the health concerns around marijuana use.
How does smoking pot affect
a young person's health and physical well being?
That's what many experts have been asking.
And that's what I want to know.
The legal age to buy, use, possess,
and grow marijuana is 19
in every province except Alberta and Québec,
where the age drops to 18.
And while that might sound reasonable -
after all it does line up with legal drinking age -
many doctors have expressed concerns
that ages 18 and 19 are too young.
Doctors and scientists say that cannabis can
seriously affect your brain,
while it's still developing.
I'm Diane Kelsall, I'm a family physician
and interim editor-in-chief for
Canadian Medical Association Journal.
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Thank you for taking the time to talk to me.
What are some of the negative side effects of
using marijuana repeatedly under age 25.
We do know that the brain develops
till about the age of 25.
When they look at the brains, they looked at the brains
of people who used cannabis versus people who didn't,
they actually saw physical changes in the brain.
We know that cannabis can effect mood.
We know that it effect motivations.
If you start using as an adolescent you can anticipate
that about 1 in 6 will become dependant.
The human brain isn't fully developed until age 25.
Some studies suggest that marijuana use
at least 10 times a month, by users under age 25,
could lead to some changes in the brain
affecting memory and the ability to plan.
And some studies also show how
these changes could be permanent.
But permanent slowing of your brains functions is not
the only side effect linked with
consistent cannabis use before age 25.
Certainly if you are at risk of mental health disorders -
either by your family or past history -
there's an increased chance that you will have something
like psychosis or schizophrenia.
These are two things that have been shown to be
associated with cannabis use.
Then there's another thing,
there are still some experts and healthcare workers
that worry that to know something is legal
makes it okay in a teen's mind.
And that, that can be bad
for kids who don't know all the side effects.
And some of these side effects last a really long time.
One of my concerns is that by legalizing it,
it may send a message to people that,
"Hey, it's really fine. It's okay."
And we know that it's not.
I guess a question that I think about a lot is -
these seem like some pretty heavy side effects.
Do you think the government is aware of this?
They're absolutely aware.
What do you think the minimum age should be to use Marijuana?
I do think it would have been
a better choice to have gone with 21.
What would your advice be or guidance to people who are
of legal age and plan on using marijuana
when it becomes legalized?
Good question.
I think what I would say to them is,
"Minimize the use you have."
Like it or not, change has come to Canada.
And whether that change has positive or negative effect,
we'll have to wait and see.
But as long as grown-ups are talking about marijuana
it's still a good idea for kids to stay plugged in.
So, what do you think?
Email us at:
and let us know.
I am Campbell Baron for
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