THE Australian Medical Association stated that a proposed bill to legalise cannabis in Australia for recreational use must be shelved to avoid more people using the drug and suffering health conditions.
In a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee examining the Bill, the association says there are many risks posed by recreational cannabis.
President Steve Robson said any increase in cannabis use's negative health impacts could also lead to ill health for more people and further impact on the health system.
"We know from a recent systematic review that there was an increase in acute cannabis poisoning post-legalisation in the US, Canada, and Thailand.
The submission also stated that while cannabis use should not be legalised, the current approach to cannabis regulation could be improved.
"Cannabis use should be treated as a health issue, not a criminal issue," he added.
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