Health by Robert MacMillan MD With the legalization of cannabis for recreational use in Canada on October 17, 2018, many questions have arisen − with some of particular interest to all travellers leaving Canada, including snowbirds. Marijuana is the term used for extracts from the flowers, leaves, stems and seeds of the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant. The most common recreational use of marijuana is smoking in a hand-rolled (joint) or pipe (bong), but mixing marijuana in food (edibles) including candy, brownies, cookies and drinks has increased in popularity. Many issues were raised over the use of “medical marijuana,” prescribed legally to increasing numbers of Canadians, including travellers. Those who were going to the U.S. and other countries where, in parts or all of the countries, it was still illegal faced serious issues. Although medical marijuana by prescription has been legal since 2001 for all Canadians, there are only about half of the states in the U.S. where medical marijuana is legal. Of interest to some snowbirds, Florida passed medical marijuana use legislation last year (with very restrictive regulations) and Texas allows medical marijuana for only a few conditions and only to permanent residents of the state. There are 12 states in which any type of marijuana is illegal, but ordinary possession of most firearms requires no licence! Only Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts, Nevada andWashington D.C. have legalized marijuana for recreational use. MARIJUANA AND SNOWBIRDS 38 | www.snowbirds.org
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