Should the Federal Government Legalize Marijuana

Marijuana Legalization 1

Should the Federal Government Legalize Marijuana?

Insert Name Here

Insert Affiliation Here

Subject: “Should the Federal Government Legalize Marijuana?”

To: Aglukkaq, Leona (Hon.), Minister of Health

Prepared By:

Date: 11th February, 2012

Issue:

Canada's Justice Ministry claimed back in 2003 that laws related to cannabis use “could do with modernization”. Although the arrangement didn’t go as far as legalizing marijuana, the legislation that was to be introduced would permit the use and possession of small amounts of the drug for personal use. In effect, the jail time and criminalization would be substituted with penalties and charges.

People believe that the law to make marijuana illegal was prepared “without any apparent scientific basis or even any real sense of social urgency”. The scientific standing overpoweringly points toward marijuana being significantly less injurious to health than alcohol. Therefore, it should be looked at not as a unlawful issue but from the lens of social and public health. There is also resentment over the fact that the United States government is pressing Canada to back away from the reforms. Popular Canadian opinion dictates that this is due to American belief that Canada is the major exporter of weed to their country. The United States Drug Enforcement Agency has established offices and deployed personnel in Ottawa and Vancouver since early 2001.

Background:

Marijuana or Cannabis refers to the dried leaves of the hemp plant that are used in cigarette form as medicine and a psychoactive drug. Other uses include it being a religious and spiritual rite.

The official status of cannabis in Canada is still under dispute. The apex and appellate courts in Ontario have continually stated the decrees to be of “no force and effect”. Still, confrontations to cannabis regulations at the federal level have not yielded results. The related articles from the Criminal Code of Canada and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act have not been repealed. Law enforcement authorities and prosecution services in several other jurisdictions still file charges for drug possession.

Current Situation:

A poll carried out by Toronto-based Forum Research Inc. in January, 2012 showed that Canadians “have green on their minds, but not in the environmental sense”. It showed 66% ofCanadians favor the justification of cannabis use, with only 20% of the voters against the motion. Statistics depicted that 73% of respondents in British Columbia would be in favor of marijuana law reform. The province of Quebec lay at the other end of the spectrum as it had the least support for the proposed change out of all others, although a majority (61%) still went in favor of the restructuring the law within the province.

Although the cultivation of cannabis is currently illegal in Canada, a “World Drug Report” by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime in 2007 declared Canada of being the leader of the developed world in marijuana use. According to the document, which is a standard for law enforcement agencies around the world, 16.8% of Canadian nationals aged 15 and 64, smoked pot or ingested one of its many derivatives every year.

At a top-most stage, the Marijuana Party of Canada is spearheading the crusade for legalizing marijuana usage. In the 2006 federal elections, it received 9,275 votes. That makes up 0.06% of the nation’s vote. Other smaller, parties are also present on a provincial scale, including the British Columbia Marijuana Party, Saskatchewan Marijuana Party, Bloc Pot and the Marijuana Party of Nova Scotia. The Green Party of Canada also supports the decriminalizing of marijuana use, as well as its provincial arms.

Key Considerations:

It should be noted that decriminalizing the drug would bring a new product into the economy which is used by the majority of the individuals and carries the potential of eliminating the black economy it has created and boosting the regular economy. The Government will also be able to better enforce, control and regulate all rules and regulations accompanying the drug’s use. The people will also be given what they ask for, with those against the reforms having the complete right not to use it.

The other side of the story is that marijuana is still a drug that has varied effects. Therefore, it should be used with caution and limitations should be placed upon it. But these are not always followed to the letter as is the case with alcohol. People who use cannabis before driving are twice as likely to have an accident as those not under the influence, according to a Canadian analysis of previous studies. It may also result in other social misdemeanors, but there is not evidence to substantiate that notion.

It should also be noted that use of marijuana breeds inefficiency, laziness and unproductivity.

Options and Recommendations:

Cannabis should be legalized in a regulatory framework similar to alcohol. The fines and punishments for any unlawful behavior should be dealt with in a similar fashion while sale to underage children should be banned. Rehabilitation centers and other facilities like medical centers to distribute it for medicinal purposes should be established with appropriate licenses to generate revenues.

References

Canadaonline.about.com (2003) Decriminalization of Marijuana in Canada. [online] Available at: http://canadaonline.about.com/library/issues/blimj.htm [Accessed: 12 Feb 2012].

Cannabisfacts.ca (2002) Cannabis Facts for Canadians: Essential information for an informed debate about cannabis policy. [online] Available at: http://www.cannabisfacts.ca/ [Accessed: 12 Feb 2012].

Marijuanaparty.ca (n.d.) Marijuana Party of Canada | Parti Marijuana du Canada. [online] Available at: http://www.marijuanaparty.ca/ [Accessed: 12 Feb 2012].

Medicalmarihuana.ca (2012) Medical Marijuana. [online] Available at: http://www.medicalmarihuana.ca/ [Accessed: 12 Feb 2012].

Smh.com.au (2012) Cars and cannabis don't mix, study finds. [online] Available at: http://www.smh.com.au/world/cars-and-cannabis-dont-mix-study-finds-20120211-1syc4.html [Accessed: 12 Feb 2012].

Vandaelle, I. (2011) Majority of Canadians support legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana, new poll suggests | Canada | News | National Post. [online] Available at: http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/01/17/majority-of-canadians-support-legalizing-or-decriminalizing-marijuana-new-poll-suggests/ [Accessed: 12 Feb 2012].

Vandaelle, I. (2011) Majority of Canadians support legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana, new poll suggests | Canada | News | National Post. [online] Available at: http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/01/17/majority-of-canadians-support-legalizing-or-decriminalizing-marijuana-new-poll-suggests/ [Accessed: 12 Feb 2012].

Yourlife.usatoday.com (2012) Marijuana users twice as likely to cause accident - USATODAY.com. [online] Available at: http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/story/2012-02-09/Marijuana-users-twice-as-likely-to-cause-car-crash/53031202/1 [Accessed: 12 Feb 2012].