Controversy Regarding Cannabis-Related Legislations in Canada

The Canadian Liberal Government hopes to introduce legislation to legalize marijuana in 2017, but I don’t know if that is the right choice to make. Almost two out of every 10 Canadians reported having consumed marijuana in the past year, but more than 30 per cent of poll respondents said they would do so in the next year if it were legal. There are no benefits of doing this substance, so why do it! There are many side effects that marijuana can have on a person such as dizziness, lack of motivation, lung problems, etc. Hopefully, weed does not become legalized in Canada because there are many negative aspects of doing so.

Marijuana is currently a hot topic of debate throughout Canada, and has been for the past few years. Marijuana was first banned in 1923 under the Opium and Drug Act, but since 1997 the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act have controlled it. In 2000, over 30,000 Canadians were charged with possession of marijuana. Currently, the marijuana laws are not enforced equally across the country, which has prompted the interest in changing the laws or possibly decriminalizing marijuana. Also, those convicted of marijuana related crimes usually don't go to jail, but they do receive a criminal record.

During discussions of legalizing cannabis for the public, many judges in Canada have allowed using marijuana in personal medical situations. For example, Nichols (2000) expresses that:

Marijuana is currently a hot topic of debate throughout Canada, and has been for the past few years. Marijuana was first banned in 1923 under the Opium and Drug Act, but since 1997 the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act have controlled it. In 2000, over 30,000 Canadians were charged with possession of marijuana. Currently, the marijuana laws are not enforced equally across the country, which has prompted the interest in changing the laws or possibly decriminalizing marijuana. Also, those convicted of marijuana related crimes usually don’t go to jail, but they do receive a criminal record.

Marijuana is the most controversial drug banned in many countries for its adverse effects, but a lot of people ignore its medicinal benefits. There are many movements held across the globe to legalize marijuana. These movements are from people who are benefited by marijuana and are reluctant to let go of the drug. These movements made most of the countries to review their governmental policies and use marijuana in a restricted way so to utilize its full capability.

Legalizing marijuana has become one of the most talked about topics in Canada. The Canadian Government has many considerations to digest before they legalize the drug

In the essay “Marijuana Should Not be Legalized in Canada”, the author’s controlling idea is that marijuana should not legalized in Canada because of health, tax, and societal impacts. To begin with, the author tells us “if store-bought marijuana becomes overtaxed, people will fall back on the already established underground market”. This example discusses how black market will continue existing because of the overtaxed of the marijuana. Moreover, “street marijuana has other drugs mixed into it” so that more people prefer and that will also increase the establish of underground market. Secondly, the author states “marijuana constrain 33 chemicals that are known to cause cancer”. This reinforces the idea that marijuana cause health problems.

According to Morgan Freeman (2012), “Marijuana prohibition is just the stupidest law possible...just legalize it and tax it like we do liquor”. Canada has illegalized marijuana in 1923.Since then marijuana has been the most used drug among Canadians .Moreover, Canada has the highest rate of marijuana use in the world. Therefore, many Canadians argue that the time that marijuana gets legalized in has arrived. Marijuana has been proven to be very beneficial to the country. Legalizing marijuana will reduce crimes, benefit the economy and help individuals medically.

Should marijuana be legalized? Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is currently an illegal recreational herb or substance in Canada with some exceptions to government authorized dispensaries for medical use. Legalization means its legal but with regulations in place. Cigarettes are legal but have many regulations on how they are made, how they are packaged, how they are sold and even used. Legalization of marijuana ensures regulations are put in place for the wellbeing of all Canadians. There are many benefits to legalizing marijuana such as making the substance less accessible to minors, increase taxation revenues, and lowering criminal activity.

Currently it is legal to use marijuana under a Health Canada license for medical purposes in Canada; however, the debate if Canada should legalize marijuana for recreational use has exploded in controversy of the years (marijuanaalaws.ca). For instance, Lupick argues British Columbia should be proactive with legalizing recreational use of cannabis since most of the West Coast has already legalized marijuana in all capacities (Lupick). Some opinions argue that legalization should occur because the perception is there are no health risks to the use of marijuana and there are benefits for individuals with medical issues (Pacula et al. 1021). However, the opinion alters for some individuals that claim

The issue of whether or not to legalize marijuana in Canada is not a contemporary one. In fact, the debate surrounding the legalization of marijuana dates back as far as the 1960’s and exists in some frameworks to this day. With such a lengthy history, comes a past of distinct socio-economic and political policies, outlining what “appropriate” marijuana usage should look like. From prohibition to complete legalization, this essay will outline the history surrounding the legalization of marijuana, from its socio-economic and political frameworks, while simultaneously identifying the institutions and actors involved in its development.

The president of the Canadian Police Association believes Canadians are trying to decriminalize marijuana prematurely. He says supporters of change are overlooking the risks. “We don’t have the tools and the training available to us now to ensure that people aren’t driving cars, for example, or operating machinery, while they’re impaired by Marijuana” he said. “ There are all kinds of implications that I don’t think people are considering carefully enough… Its still a harmful substance ultimately” (Ballingall)

Marijuana has always been illegal in Canada, but it has recently been addressed by the Canadian government that by 2018 marijuana will become legal for people eighteen years and older. Since this law became official there has been a large debate on whether it should really be put into place. It has always been taught how marijuana is harmful which is why many people are against the idea of legalizing it. If marijuana was allowed there would be more solutions to health issues, it would be less accessible and the judicial system would improve. Ultimately, there are far more advantages than disadvantages of legalizing marijuana, which is why marijuana should be legal for people eighteen years and older.

In Canada, cannabis use became illegal in 1923 after the Act to Prohibit the Improper Use of Opium and other Drugs added cannabis to the list of illicit substances. Cannabis then became an illegal substance under the same category of harder drugs such as cocaine and heroin, despite lack of scientific or criminal correlations to suggest such categorization (CAMH, 2014). An increase in illicit drug use in the 1960’s and 1970’s was met by greatly increased criminalization and the associated individual and social costs. The strain on the courts, and the rising numbers of otherwise law-abiding youth being sentenced for recreational use of cannabis created pressures for the liberalization of Canada’s drug laws. As a result, the Commission of Inquiry

Cannabis is becoming increasingly widespread and increasingly common in modern-day society for both recreational use and for medication. The article by Craig Reinarman, ‘Criminalisation, legalisation and the mixed blessing of medicalisation in the USA’ generates many controversial issues of cannabis.