Redi Jedi. This is interesting reading your statement.
I can't say for certain how many people I have seen come in with a pychotic episode due to weed but I will say a fair number. Maybe about ten so far this year and I am just one nurse. It really depends on a persons genetic make up. Some people are fine smoking weed and others aren't. Some people take just one puff and they alter their brain chemistry and they stay in care for quite a while. I've seen some alter their brain chemicals so badly it's taken two years for them to get back to right. It costs as I said $1000 a day on the acute ward to house a patient and 50% of mental health patients are drug related. certainly not all are caused by pot and a lot are in there for speed and other injectables but yes, definately a solid percentage for patients in their because of drug induced psychosis.
Marc Emery...I've actually had a meal with Jodi and Marc once and they smoke a lot. If you smoke lots and lots every day for decades, as I say it can certainly alter some peoples brain chemistry. Others are fine. So if you want to have anyone and everyone have access to pot, you are not considering those with schizophrenia and/or those who do suffer from periods of psychos but if you did prevent those people from getting access to weed, then I would go along with the program. We want to fix our healthcare system and not destroy it with over numbers of mental health patients.
The labeling me as a hyprocite hurts me as I said that I fully endorsed people using weed if they had a legitimate reason to use it. And you do sound like a smart person so I'm sure you know already or can read up on the many uses of weed for a person that has a medicinal need for it. I even included depression and stress. Depression being the most major problem less than heart disease. Anyone suffering should have access to it and there are mega people who fill that definition. If you';re stressed, have a toke. Fine.
A medical pot industry employs people too if it's done right. I'm not suggesting it is done right in Canada and that's why I am willing to fight on. I hope you do as well. But if you truly don't believe in a medical pot program, then why are you in this section in the first place? I don't understand. You're welcome to change your mind. I did. I used to be fully into everyone should have access but after working two years on the psych ward...I've changed my mind. Not enough to say no pot for anyone. I'll never be like that I hope. But what I've seen does worry me to some degree. People who try it for the first time may not know that they have a genetic disposition to being mentally unwell. So how do we prevent them from themselves and their curiosity? We can't. But maybe down the path we can sugest to them that other people seem to be fine with it while you just don't seem to fair that well on it. The same argument comes from alcohol consumption.
I am definitely not a neo con. I believe in people needing it if they feel they are unwell or need a lift to counter anxiety or depression or stress. Situational circumstance etc. A million other reasons that are justified. I hope I have clarified my position and not come accross as anti pot because I am not.