New Brunswick advised to prepare for legal marijuana

A Colorado doctor says New Brunswick needs to get citizens up to speed on legalized marijuana well before it arrives.

Dr. Larry Wolk helped his state introduce legal pot four years ago as the executive director and chief medical officer of the state's public health department. He says people there had many fears and state officials had to do plenty of homework beforehand.

"There's a lot of myths and folklore about marijuana that are out there … as well as making sure that we have appropriate ways to monitor for it as it relates to crime, to driving accidents, emergency room use and school performance."

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Wolk has been in communication with Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's acting chief medical officer of health, about the looming legalization of marijuana for recreational use in Canada.

Smooth transition

Wolk says the introduction of legal pot  in Colorado has gone smoothly.

"We don't see a lot in a way of additional use amongst adults and even youth at this point. By and large things are what expected, nothing dramatic and nothing extreme."

Revenues aren't as large as expected, but tax revenue from in-store purchases has been put back into the state school system.

"Then all of the programs ... when it comes to having a legalized marijuana structure, things like regulation, surveillance, monitoring and public education."

Hospital and emergency room visits involving marijuana use have increased in the state. But Wolk says they are still well below those involving alcohol and prescription drugs.

"Interesting part about those is that the biggest contributors are from tourists, folks visiting from out of state and are not familiar with our ongoing education campaigns."

One death has also been attributed to marijuana use.

"One man had an acute psychotic event. He thought he could fly and jumped out a window. But, nothing from any sort of toxicity-related effects, as  you might see with something like alcohol," he said.

Impaired driver detection

Wolk also said the police are still trying to figure out the best way to detect drivers impaired by marijuana.

"There's been no increase in DUIs [driving under the influence] ... but there has been an increase with marijuana involved. But that's because we started actually testing for marijuana as part as the roadside test."

"Many of these folks are multi-substance users who might be pulled over under the influence —  alcohol, marijuana, or alcohol, marijuana and other substances.

Wolk said the state is most concerned about  the impact that legalization will have on youth.

"When you make something that is risky or potentially harmful to youth more normal by legalizing it then that does lead to increased access and increased use. So everyone is concerned about what the impact will be on youth," he said.