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Psychiatrist Dr Nemal Gokool supports Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s move to raise the legal age for marijuana use to 25, citing strong links between early cannabis exposure and serious mental health risks, particularly among young adults.

He is however cautioning that without clarity on how the policy will be enforced, it could undo the progress made through decriminalisation.

In a telephone interview with the Express yesterday, Gokool said while the Prime Minister’s statement was brief and lacked specifics, the suggestion to restrict marijuana access for those under 25 aligns with medical evidence showing that cannabis can have damaging effects on the developing brain.