Various types have been pushing the message in Canada that under 25 the brain is not fully developed and so smoking pot could have a detrimental effect. I would be more convinced it was a serious concern if it were to coming from the types who seem opposed to the current Canadian government’s fundamental decision to legalize marijuana. The outcry comes across as “Let’s delay legalization while we investigate this…” But, we’ve had a continent full of young people ages 14 to 24 who have been using marijuana pretty regularly since the 60’s. Political jabs notwithstanding, really I don’t see a difference in intelligence or brain capability between generations. There are more demonstrable effects from FASD - and again, contrary to “no amount is safe” Cassandras, FASD is a side effect of habitual drunkness in pregnancy, not the occasional imbibe. I don’t imagine pot to be any worse.
It’s just a right-wing bandwagon ploy to delay the legalization in Canada. I mean seriously, limit it to those over 25? Why bother legalizing then? (Which of course, is what they want.)
My mind says 25+ but something in my heart wants to say YMMV with an inside limit of say 16. I know people who started smoking it regularly in their teens still showing no ill effects in their 60s. And FWIW they are just as sharp mentally now as before they starting using.
based on my experience*, people only dislike it because they aren’t doing it right. it comes on so much slower it’s easy to get too much and people baking their own brownies, for example, don’t have any idea how much they are getting.
Is there any evidence that smoking pot affects brain development? If so, is there any evidence that it does so up until age 25? Is there any evidence that if there is an effect, it stops at age 25?
To me the big part is that before 25 you generally lack the ability to make reasoned long term decisions. So a person under 25 doesn’t really have the ability to make the decision to smoke or not to smoke. Personally I think we should up the alcohol and voting ages to 25 as well.
All I can say is I first smoked it age 15, and I’ve done pretty well. Probably had it most days during high school. Only lost interest in it about 10 years ago, for whatever reason. It’ll be legal in a few months in CA, so it won’t by any fun anymore anyway!
If you’re going to set the age based on the end of brain development then you’re looking at 25 years old based on current science.
But as a more practical matter we recognize that the human brain gradually acquires more and more capability over time, and even if development is not complete people between, say, 15 and 25 are capable of taking on more and more adult responsibilities. Which is why driving privileges are commonly granted between 16-18, drinking/voting between 18-21, and so forth.
I’m willing to allow marijuana use at the same ages we set for tobacco and alcohol. Which for most jurisdictions are between 18 and 21 with the later age being more common these days.
how about the age where you can be sent to war? volunteering might be a different question (not sure) but a draft for kids that aren’t old enough to decide if they can smoke/drink or not seems extra wrong.
Well really it should be the other way around, if you’re drafted your decision is being made by a Legislator who is presumably over 25 and thus qualified to make the decision, a under 25 year old should be barred from volunteering since they don’t yet understand the ramifications of their decision.
