The Parliamentary Health Committee on Marijuana has been told extensive use of pot by adolescents whose brains are still developing can have negative long term effects .
Dr. Gabor Mate says the drug use itself is only a symptom of a larger problem afflicting young people these days with rising numbers of youth becoming anxious and depressed to the point they resort to drug use. He says the reasons why that’s happening should be examined more closely.
Dr. Mate argues for adults, heavy use of tobacco and alcohol is more harmful over the long term than marijuana which he argues is neither addictive nor a gateway drug.
He also warns adults telling young people something is bad for them won’t work because the young people who are at risk will listen more to their peers than to adults.
