A dried flower bud of the Cannabis plant. Credit: Public Domain
With new legislation imminent in Canada, marijuana is a hot topic these days. Those who smoke it may be cheering. Those who've never tried it may be thinking, why not? And those looking to make a business out of it are grappling with how to navigate a challenging product.

But one of the most contentious aspects of legalization is age.

Early use of marijuana can increase its negative health impacts

A dried flower bud of the Cannabis plant. Credit: Public Domain

With new legislation imminent in Canada, marijuana is a hot topic these days. Those who smoke it may be cheering. Those who’ve never tried it may be thinking, why not? And those looking to make a business out of it are grappling with how to navigate a challenging product.

But one of the most contentious aspects of legalization is age. A report by the Canadian Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation, released in December 2016, recommends marijuana use be restricted to those 18 years old and older.

The need for age guidelines falls in line with a new study by James McIntosh, professor of economics in the Faculty of Arts and Science. Recently published in the journal Health, the findings show that young users report the most impact to their physical and mental health.

The article also shows that those who wait until the age of 21 to use the drug are unlikely to develop a lifelong…

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