Public policy shouldn’t infantilize people simply because minors might misuse a product, writes Dr. Jeffrey Singer.
"It’s no surprise that adolescents can have serious psychiatric reactions to high-dose THC or otherwise suffer from severe nausea and vomiting (“Potheads Head for the ER,” Review & Outlook, Dec. 10). Clinicians have been aware of these risks associated with cannabis use for years.
They’ve also long known that alcohol can trigger acute hallucinations and psychotic reactions. Anyone who’s been to a college party also knows how easily excessive drinking leads to uncontrollable vomiting. Studies consistently show that college-age drinkers face sharply higher risks of alcohol-related injuries, car crashes and sexual or physical assault than older users.
Yet no serious person suggests revisiting prohibition. We trust adults to weigh the risks and benefits of drinking, and we rely on age restrictions and enforcement, not broad bans, to keep alcohol out of minors’ hands.
Why should we treat cannabis differently? All drugs carry some risk, but the harms of adolescent use don’t justify laws that strip adults of their right to consumption. Public policy shouldn’t infantilize people simply because minors might misuse a product. We don’t ban alcohol, driving or ordinary household chemicals on that basis, and we shouldn’t apply a more paternalistic standard to cannabis.
Jeffrey A. Singer, M.D.
Cato Institute"
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.