Pot use has risks and laws Marijuana became legal this week, and it’s a historical moment that you can celebrate or demonize, according to your personal opin- ions. However there are facts that you should be aware of before con- sidering a new relationship with the seductive weed. First of all, remember that can- nabis is a drug. And it’s not neces- sarily a benign drug. In fact there are “risks and harms associated with its use,” according to a recent report released by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. Those risks with the long-term use of cannabis include mental and physical effects for both young and old. The risks include deficits in memory, attention, executive func- tioning and often addiction. Secondly, the Cannabis Con- trol and Licens- ing Act also mandates that you must be at least 19 years old to purchase, sell or consume marijuana in ALBERTO B.C. And even TUFANO _ if you are 19 or older, you can- not possess more than 30 grams of marijuana in pub- lic: it’s still illegal. Finally, never forget that smok- ing, vaping and consuming canna- bis on any kind of school property is prohibited. This means that you cannot use marijuana at your school gym, sport fields or other places where children could be playing, including skate parks and _play- grounds. These rules should be kept well in mind because legalization doesn’t mean stepping on other people’s rights. “I have kids so I dont like they can drink it or get it easily,” said Adeel Dahaar, a cab driver working nights in Vancouver, about cannabis. And Dahaar is not alone on this position: 58.5 per cent out of 1,087 Canadians surveyed last year by Dalhousie University expressed concerns about “children and youth having greater access to recreational marijuana.” Moreover, another study cited by the U.S.-based National Institute on Drug Abuse summarize this way how marijuana may affect a person's life: lower life satisfaction, poorer mental health, poorer physical health and more relationship prob- lems. People report less academic and career success. Marijuana use is also linked to a higher likelihood of dropping out of school. One final thought: if you are a new driver who just got a licence in B.C.’s graduated licensing program, remember that you will be subject to zero-tolerance restrictions on mariujana use while driving. So a simple suggestion to stay healthy and safe with marijuana: don't use pot and drive. Langara students Danni Beardy and Daniel Kennedy are running for Aboriginal Student Representative on the LSU. The position has been vacant since 2014, meaning the school's Indigenous students have gone without representation on the student union for four years. RENA MEDOW ILLUSTRATION LSU needs Aboriginal rep Langara needs Aboriginal stu- dent representation on the student union to continue to establish its relationships with Indigenous communities — relationships that Langara has committed to strengthening over the years. The Langara Student Union elections are coming up, and this year there are two candidates run- ning for Aboriginal student rep- resentative. This means that Lan- gara will have its first Aboriginal student —_repre- sentative on the LSU in four years. Although the position has been available since 2014, the seat remained unfilled. That’s too long without Indigenous stu- dent representa- tion. Indigenous people have faced a difficult history that still resonates today. The struggles of Indigenous people didn’t go away in 1996 with the last residential school closure. ‘The remnants of horrific expe- riences have been passed down through generations and continue KELSEA FRANZKE to be felt by Indigenous people to- day. Langara making an effort to have conversations about recon- ciliation and understanding that Indigenous history deserves atten- tion is a great start, but this is an issue that re- more than just support in educa- tion; it comes from community representation, a sense of belong- ing and a supportive environment. Some may argue that represen- tation of all cultures should be paramount quires a lon- on the LSU, ger conversa- . . especially tion. Having | “Academic potential | given thar origina arge portion student rep- comes from more of Langara’s resentation in . . student popu- the LSU will than just support in lation is made encourage the education; it comes up of minority avenue Or groups. one aoe from community While this ; ; is true, i and will make representation , doesnt de it more acces- . minis the sible for non- sense of belonging importance of Indi . havi Ab- students to and a supportive original " stu- te hisoy environment.” five, The pos and = experi- of Aboriginal ences of In- digenous people. The Aboriginal Education Policy at Langara states that the college will “provide full opportunity and support for Aboriginal students to achieve their academic potential.” Academic potential comes from student rep- resentative is symbolic of a commitment to people who have been mistreated and displaced in Canada’s found- ing history. It's something that Langara College recognizes has been done on its very own land, and is now making amends for. ‘The college administration has gone to great lengths to strengthen connections between many Indig- enous groups and the school. For example, in 2016 Lan- gara received the Musqueam name, snaweydt lelem’, that means “house of teaching,” and in 2014 Langara’s president was given the Musqueam name Takaya. Addi- tionally, Langara offers Aborigi- nal reconciliation classes taught by First Nations artists, and was the first school to implement a formal Aboriginal education policy in British Columbia. Maintaining a seat for an Ab- original student representative on the LSU mirrors Langara’s mes- sage that Indigenous representa- tion and recognition is important to the college. All of Langara should be mak- ing efforts to better student ex- periences and education through various means, with political rep- resentation being one of them. The lack of an Aboriginal student rep- resentative on the LSU for the past four years does not reflect Lan- gara’s commitment to strengthen- ing connections with Aboriginal people, so it is time for the position to be filled. The Voice is pub- lished by Langara College’s joumalism government and administration. We welcome letters to department. Editorial — the editor. They may opinions are those be edited for brevity. of the staff and Your letter must in- are independent of clude your name and views of the student phone number. HOW TO DROP-IN REACH US Room A226 Langara College PHONE 604-323-5396 SNAIL MAIL The Voice E-MAIL 100 West 49th Ave. thevoice@langara. Vancouver, B.C. be.ca V5Y 226 WEBSITE MANAGING EDITOR langaravoice.ca Gabrielle Plonka PAGE EDITORS PAGE 7 PAGE 1 Amanda Poole Lisa Steacy PAGE 8 PAGE 2 Cameron Thomson Neil Amsler PAGE 3 MANAGING Nikitha Martins WEBSITE PAGE 4&5 EDITOR Garcia Desireé Cloe Logan PAGE 6 Gabrielle Plonka REPORTERS Darren Amner Joe Ayres Agazy Mengesha Kirsten Clarke Mandy Moraes Mathilda de Villiers Patrick Penner Nathan Durec Kathryn Tindale Roxanne Egar-Elliott © Alberto Tufano Kelsea Franzke Taesa Hodel Nathan Gan Katelynn Gardiner Shabnam Jessa Nicholas Laba Adam Levi Rena Medow CONTACT US Online at langaravoice.ca Twitter @lLangaraVoice