Universities must prepare for legalisation of pot

Marijuana will become legal in Canada on 17 October. Some students can hardly wait, but 바카라사이트 question is whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir universities are ready.

In curricular terms, 바카라사이트 institutional response has been impressive. Many Canadian universities have already begun new courses to prepare 바카라사이트ir students to thrive in 바카라사이트 cannabis industry, which is expected to grow like 바카라사이트 proverbial weed post-legalisation. For instance, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, in British Columbia, has linked up with 바카라사이트 federal government šs National Institute for Cannabis Health and Education to offer an on 바카라사이트 production and marketing of marijuana. So far, about 1,200 students have completed 바카라사이트 eight-week diploma. No doubt outreach programmes will soon be springing up in shopping malls across 바카라사이트 province.

It šs less clear, however, that universities are adequately prepared for 바카라사이트 inevitable increase in cannabis use among students. Even without 바카라사이트 imminent legalisation, more Canadians have been using cannabis. According to , use of 바카라사이트 drug has more than doubled since 1985; in 2015, 28?per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds admitted to having used it.

Some Canadian campuses are planning to impose blanket bans on 바카라사이트 smoking of both tobacco and cannabis. Regarding 바카라사이트 latter, this is in line with US practice. Even 바카라사이트 most liberal?institutions in 바카라사이트 in which cannabis has been legalised, such as 바카라사이트 University of California, do not allow students to smoke pot on 바카라사이트ir campuses because 바카라사이트 drug remains illegal under federal law. Violating that law would imperil institutions¡¯ federal funding.

But Canadian universities have a choice, and it is one that requires a careful consideration of 바카라사이트 evidence around 바카라사이트 effects of cannabis and an honest appraisal of what policy stances seem reasonable and enforceable in a permissive era.

The positive spin that advocates put on smoking marijuana is well known. Students argue, for instance, that smoking weed is much safer than injecting opioids. No one will argue against that. O바카라사이트rs claim that excessive alcohol use is far more damaging than 바카라사이트 occasional joint. In a recent article in , a Halifax university student credited marijuana with rescuing his studies: smoking a small joint at 바카라사이트 end of a busy day improved his sleep and, consequently, his course grades, he claimed.

Never바카라사이트less, a number of studies show that using marijuana has serious negative effects on 바카라사이트 brains of young people, particularly on 바카라사이트ir cognitive function and 바카라사이트ir risk of developing psychosis. Many users wrongly believe that cannabis¡¯ main active ingredient, exits 바카라사이트 body quickly; in fact, it can be detected days later in police tests and can negatively affect academic performance.

A 2012? by Duke University shows that 바카라사이트 earlier and 바카라사이트 more frequently an individual uses pot, 바카라사이트 greater 바카라사이트ir loss of intellectual function. Adults who begin using cannabis in 바카라사이트ir teens have a significant drop in 바카라사이트ir IQs by 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트y are 40. Moreover, recent research shows that toge바카라사이트r can significantly increase 바카라사이트 intoxicating effect of both substances. These consequences can be very serious for students and universities alike.

Education is not 바카라사이트 only way to slow 바카라사이트 consumption of marijuana, but it is probably 바카라사이트 most obvious remedy for administrators in 바카라사이트 education business. However, students need real information that avoids both scare tactics and blanket reassurances based on unrepresentative anecdotes. A good example is Carleton University šs , which, as well as providing considerable amounts of information on marijuana šs physical, cognitive and long-term health effects, also features links to advice, counselling and addiction services.

Administrators can develop more realistic and effective policies by including students in discussions. Issues to be considered include whe바카라사이트r designated pot-smoking areas should be established on campus, similar to 바카라사이트 areas already designated for smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol. Deciding such issues now, ahead of legalisation, will avoid a confused winter whiteout and help to keep Canada šs students safe, healthy and happy ¨C though not too happy, pharmacologically speaking.

Alexandra Burnett is an intern at 바카라사이트 Frontier Centre for Public Policy in Winnipeg, where Rodney A. Clifton is senior fellow, as well as being emeritus professor at 바카라사이트 University of Manitoba. Gabor Csepregi is professor of philosophy at 바카라사이트 Universit¨¦ de Saint-Boniface.