A day before the voting for the U.S. Presidential election took place, Bill Maher tweeted the following, "I know everyone's feeling stressed about the election -- I suggest some deep breathing exercises -- breathe in...hold the smoke..breathe out." A day after the election, millions of citizens in the United States realized that they would soon be able to legally follow Maher's advice.
While Obama's victory stole the show on November 6, other important victories occurred as well, namely that "Colorado and Washington became the first U.S. states to legalize the possession and sale of marijuana for recreational use." These states joined a slew of others who have already legalized medical marijuana, and will likely push for full legalization in the future.
In Canada, though we are not quite at legalization yet, the trend has been similar. At the Liberal Party of Canada's last Biennial Convention, 77 per cent of delegates voted in favour of adding the legalization of marijuana to the party's official platform. As such, it appears as though the next time the party puts together a platform (before the next election) the legalization of marijuana will likely be on the list.
One of the major reasons for the Liberal Party's embrace of legalization is their need for votes. Relegated to third party status, they need some redeeming issues to take hold of, and it appears as though the legalization of marijuana will be one of them. In a recent survey conducted by Toronto's Forum Research, 65 per cent of Canadians indicated that they support either the legalization and taxation of marijuana (33 per cent) or the decimalization of the substance (32 per cent).
This news is welcoming, as the legalization or decriminalization of marijuana has become a nonpartisan solution so blatantly obvious that only misguided moral opposition remains. And while there is still some way to go before marijuana is legalized in Canada, this eventual feat should be a gateway for the legalization of other currently prohibited substances.
Think of a reason to legalize marijuana, and it will almost surely be applicable to other stronger drugs as well. In fact, the positive results which can be achieved through legalization are sometimes especially effective with stronger drugs.
Let's start by examining drug use itself. In numerous areas where marijuana has become legalized, its use has stayed around the same, or slightly declined. In Portugal though, where all drugs are decriminalized, the use of hard drugs has decreased by nearly 50 per cent.
However, perhaps more importantly, by legalizing drugs, the purity of the drug itself can be guaranteed. British Columbia's chief medical officer Dr. Perry Kendall has stated that "Ironically, Canada's 'controlled substances,' are among the country's least-controlled commodities. To evade the scrutiny of law enforcement, narcotics are often prepared in concealed, unhygienic conditions with almost no incentive for quality control." Laced drugs can often cause death, and as such, regulation is absolutely necessary.
In addition to safety, the reduction of criminal costs has become a relied upon argument for the legalization of marijuana. By legalizing marijuana, the justice system will be relieved of a considerable strain, namely millions of dollars spent on cases which involve minor and meaningless charges like possession of minor amounts of marijuana. This also frees up law enforcement to divert their resources to areas with greater needs. With hard drugs, the same is true. Currently, billions are spent annualy on enforcing the current drug laws. With Harper's mandatory minimums, this will only increase.
Drug possession and use is a current crime which can afford to be made legal because it is a personal act which requires rehabilitation and treatment as opposed to punishment. This argument has been made in favour of marijuana legalization, however, addictions to harder drugs are often far more serious and deadly. As it currently stands, untreated substance abuse costs Canada $40 billion a year. Rehabilitation has been largely successful in quashing addictions implying that it can save money as well as lives.
Yet above all else, criminal organizations currently have a monopoly on the sale of drugs. Prohibiting the sale and use of drugs has not caused either to end, but only guaranteed that dangerous illegal enterprises will have full control of both. By legalizing all drugs, the government will be able to regulate production, quality, and distribution. This means that the sale of drugs can be taxed, providing Canadians as a whole with benefits solely from those who use drugs. The global illegal drug market is estimated to have a value of well over $350 billion, and as a major player in this market, legalization in Canada can be expected to bring in millions.
It will also deal a serious blow to criminal organizations, many of which depend upon the sale of drugs to exist. Though marijuana is one drug sold by these organizations, harder drugs like meth and heroin make up the bulk of their revenue as they are more profitable. Gang wars do not break out because of marijuana; they break out because of crack.
If the legalization of marijuana can be accepted by the Canadian populace, the legalization of all drugs should be as well. Taboos, fear, and moral opposition should not prevent the government from taking the rational scientific steps necessary to solving the drug crisis.
Follow Davide Mastracci on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DavideMastracci
'However, perhaps more importantly, by legalizing drugs, the purity of the drug itself can be guaranteed.'
You must mean that the government will produce the pot, and the grow-ops and their customers, and all of the backyard/indoors/lights in the closest do-it-yourselfers, will give it up and pay $10 a pack for pot at the local corner store. Is that it? Surely you don't believe that, do you? Pot smokers will gladly pay taxes for pure pot at $10 a pack? Actually, since government will be involved (even if it's privatized), it'll be closer to $20 a pack.
Also, as has been said, it would be difficult if not impossible for Canada to change our pot laws because of the consequences vis-a-vis other countries. For example, if you arrive in Singapore today with pot in your blood system, you face the death penalty (you read that right). You also face the death penalty in Singapore if you discharge a firearm even for backyard target practice (or showing off, for example). If Canada changed pot laws, treaties with every major country in the world would have to be changed, and for sure Canadians would then need a costly visa to visit those countries. The cost of all this would certainly be too high. Why did you not mention these (few among many other) points in your article?
Second, if any progress relied on what other countries were doing, there would be none. And do you really think there wouldn't be a major international incident if a Canadian were put through that scenario as unlikely that would be to happen?
Some people smoke weed and lead a very productive life. Some overdo it and maybe are not so productive, yet they seem to cause little harm. Can you say the same of meth, crack or heroin?
Alcohol can create massive chaos and wreckage across all areas of one's life, yet we are allowed, even encouraged, to use it. Tobacco sucks up massive health care resources, yet we are allowed to use it.
Give the people their weed, and let's move on to more important things.
Meth and other nasty substances are train wrecks in the making.... more of a social and societal issue than simply a question of use/abuse/addiction. Instead of witch-hunting the weed smokers, maybe put some thought to reducing peoples' need to create the inevitable train wrecks from the bigger ticket substances. Just a thought.
It is re legalisation not just plain old 'legalisation' as Cannabis aka Marijuana was legal until added to the Confidential Restricted List in 1923
1) I'm not sure the following statement - at least when applied to BC, the province arguably most involved in the cannabis debate - is true: "Though marijuana is one drug sold by these organizations, harder drugs like meth and heroin make up the bulk of their revenue as they are more profitable"
In fact, SFU criminology professors have calculated that the underground cannabis market in BC comprises upwards of 6 Billion in revenue. Not all drugs, cannabis. Data from the DEA has shown that cannabis comprises over 60% of the revenue of Mexican drug cartels. So while cocaine might be more expensive on a per gram basis, cannabis wins out the economy of scale by a huge margin.
2) Huffpo! Is there any reason that every single article, editorial, etc having to with cannabis needs to be accompanied by the "The Best Stoner Movies" slideshow and the obligatory stock photo of someone puffing a comically huge joint? I mean really... I find that offensive and an affront to mature and educated people who have a legitimate stake in the argument. Such as myself, a physician, and family member of a medical cannabis user who is very informed on the debate. I am certainly not some guy in a Rasta hat smoking a 12 inch joint while watching Cheech and Chong... Give it a rest with the goofy stuff, huffpo!
Maybe its some auto-bot programming that just displays whatever comes up in a meta search, but still. We don't have to have ANY "best of" or "top ten" or any other clap trap video undermining the story above.
This is your standard argument dragged out every time they talk legalization and has been disproved time and again. Usually pushed by someone that has no real knowledge of the subject.
Well, yes, if the government had the ability to look beyond their own hypocrisy and fear of the bogeymen they create. This present government has proven time and again that they prefer to discard any scientific reasoning, (unless they or their cronies can make money from it). As was stated in the past Huffington Post article,
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/27/intelligence-study-links-prejudice_n_1237796.html
These ideologies are not conducive to rational progressive thought.
on Sunday, the 15th of January 2012, a room full of 3200 people from across our great country aged 14 - 90 years voted 77% in favour of the resolution put forward to legalize and regulate cannabis. this resolution additionally called for the provision of pardons for ALL Canadians previously convicted of "simple possession" under both the dated Narcotic Control Act as well as the current Controlled Drugs & Substances Act... the Liberal Party of Canada will obviously make considerable effort to form our next government and this proposed policy will contribute to this renewal. Canadians will easily recognize the incredible benefits of finally establishing a RATIONAL drug strategy which takes control of the billions generated annually away from the black market and re-invests these funds into healthcare & education. Both legitimate medicinal utilization of cannabinoids (google medicinal cannabis) and the recreational use of a God-given herb have the potential for a social/health/criminal justice/economic impact that is far beyond the term "staggering".
dan mulligan
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition/LEAP (Can)
1) Billions to drug cartels (alcohol prohibition did the same thing).
2) Incarcerated millions of non-violent people in the US and Canada at a huge cost to society - 1 TRILLION+ dollars in the US alone in the last 40 years
3) Allows no distribution controls -- more kids smoke cannabis than drink alcohol. There is a yearly US survey that shows that consistently year after year. Dealers do not care about kids.
4) Allows no control over cannabis that might be laced with far more harmful, addictive drugs.
5) Perpetuates the "harm" that cannabis does. I submit that because millions use it now in the US and Canada, that harm would have shown itself now -- it has not. In fact, the tremendous medical benefits of cannabis are now really starting to be known -- read Clint Werner's book, Marijuana: Gateway to Health. Go to You Tube and see Run From the Cure.
6) Would provide police with more support i.e., I have trouble supporting police that are going after harmless cannabis users at the expense of those who have committed far more serious crimes. My tax dollars are being wasted -- that bothers me!
Anyone who truly does the research about cannabis almost invariably changes their mind -- it did mine and I don't even use it.
The other is a man made chemical concoction that creates havoc among those that use it and those that surround them.
As well, the trend towards prohibiting more and more harmful substances such as tabacco or salty foods etc will continue as legalizing harmful substances will place too much burden on an already over taxed health care system.
It's also hardly fair or right to make someone else pay for the consequences of yours or my bad decisions.
It's the choice between freedom or state control.
I think it's no ones business if someone uses drugs.
I've never seen a pot induced bar fight.
2002 Senate report - http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/SEN/Committee/371/ille/rep/summary-e.pdf
1972 Le Dain Commission - http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/Library/studies/ledain/ldctoc.html
I agree with you, I am cynical about the Liberal Party.