With the Canadian government planning to legalize recreational marijuana effective July 1, 2018, Bill C-45 that is working its way through parliament includes a provision that could have disturbing ramifications for young people.

Though the bill sets a minimum age of 18 for a person to legally buy marijuana, the curious provision allows young people between the ages of 12 to 18, to possess under five grams of marijuana without being criminally charged.

This is the equivalent of a 12-year-old walking the streets with shot of whiskey in his or her pocket without any consequences.

The biggest problem is the message the government is sending young teens through such a provision. It leaves the impression that marijuana is a safe drug, which is the mantra activists use to push governments to legalize Cannabis in the first place.

There have been many voices responding to the Canadian government’s decision to legalize including the prestigious Canadian Medical Association Journal that condemned the decision in a recent editorial.

As governments around the world legalize recreational marijuana, concerned medical researchers are releasing a staggering amount of data stating that marijuana is far from a safe drug.

A recent study by researchers from Brigham Young University added their voice to this growing list.

Their study showed that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cananbidiol), the two major active agent ingredients in Marijuana, may damage the brains of youth much more than previously thought.

TCH causes the high associated with marijuana, and CBD relaxes the person.

The group found that when they injected THC every day for a week in teenage mice that it affected their brain requiring an increased dosage of THC to get the same effect. They also noted that a one time usage did not cause a problem.

They found that THC was damaging the reward centre of the brain and it was permanent.

Though some question whether there is a marijuana addiction, people using the drug can develop a dependence on Cannabis. Referred to as Marijuana disorder, it is the second most common reason that people enter substance abuse programs in the US. The first being alcohol.

There are now even reports showing withdrawal symptoms for those wanting to stop Cannabis usage. This may be linked to the increased potency of the Marijuana being sold today.

The potential damage to future generations is staggering.

Yet these studies are being drowned out by those calling for Marijuana’s legalization.

The Prophet Amos wrote:

“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord,
    “when I will send a famine through the land—
not a famine of food or a thirst for water,
    but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. (Amos 8:11 NASV)

Notice how he says there will be a famine for “HEARING” the words of the Lord. There will be voices, but people will not be hearing them.

Though this verse is referring to God’s prophetic voice, I believe its truth will apply in multiple areas.

Amos warned of a day when people will not hear warnings. They will be running around with both hands clamped over their ears.

Today, politicians seem to be deaf to the dozens of studies released in recent years revealing the serious consequences of Marijuana usage for young people. The following is a sampling of what this research is showing:

• 60% more likely students will not finish college
• Seven times more likely to commit suicide
• Very high risk of addiction
• More likely to have a permanently lower IQ
• Increased chance of deformed brains
• Increased risk of reduced brain size
• Increased risk of schizophrenia Read here and here.
• Increased risk of bipolar disorder
• More severe bipolar symptoms if you already have the illness
• Increased chance of memory loss
• Even casual use has a potential to cause problems

Sources:

• Marijuana does change your brain: Study shows daily doses of the drug inflict permanent damages on the reward centre, making users dependent: Daily Mail
• Kids will be able to possess weed under federal marijuana legislation: LeaderPost