Don’t Decriminalize Weed, Legalize It (Canadian Pot Politics) By Cotey Paterson In July of this year, Justin Trudeau, the leader of the federal Liberal Party of Canada, came out in support of cannabis legalization. Trudeau said he’s “not in favour of decriminalizing” cannabis, he’s “in favour of legalizing it”. Trudeau supports taxation and regulation, saying “it’s one of the only ways to keep it [cannabis] out of the hands of our kids because the current war on drugs, the current model isn’t working". Trudeau did not keep it safe by using the weasel-word 'decriminalization', which would keep the black market unharmed while creating uncertainty in the law. Instead, he had the courage to say what a majority of Canadians know: the laws prohibiting cannabis do more harm to users and society than the drug itself. We need to make it known that Canadians support Trudeau’s courageous position. One easy way to do that is by signing the petition to legalize cannabis on the Liberal Party of Canada’s website. It currently has more than 22,000 signatures, but with millions of Canadian cannabis users, there should be many more people willing to take a few minutes to show their support and possibly impact Canada’s drug laws. Trudeau’s pot remarks have been well-received by most – but in the past, he has expressed fears about the danger cannabis poses to society. Additionally, in 2009, Trudeau and other Liberal MPs voted for Bill C-15, which would have imposed mandatory minimum sentences for cannabis-related offences. The draconian legislation did not become law until the Conservative government passed their omnibus crime bill years later. According to Trudeau, it wasn’t until last November that he concluded legalizing cannabis was the only way to keep it out of the hands of organized crime and children. Trudeau said his greatest concern regarding legalization before then “was the thickening of the border and being off-side with the United States”. But with Colorado and Washington legalizing marijuana and Oregon coming close to doing so, Trudeau doesn’t think legalization in Canada will be a problem. Conversely, NDP justice critic Françoise Boivin, whose party supports the decriminalization of cannabis, said “You can’t just go legalizing something that you still to this day have such mixed signals about. I’m not saying we will not reach that point, but at some point in time we need to do more than just send a balloon out in the sky and see where it’s going to land”. In reality, her metaphor is better suited to the current drug laws where, as Trudeau noted, organized crime has full control over the market. In addition, several polls over the past few years have shown that a majority of Canadians are in favour of cannabis law reform. Then, on August 22, 2013, in the interest of what Trudeau said was “full transparency”, he admitted to smoking cannabis after becoming MP in 2008. Trudeau also revealed that his late brother, Michel Trudeau, was facing cannabis possession charges before his death in an avalanche in 1998 and that the experience influenced his current position. The Liberal leader said he last smoked cannabis about three years ago at his Montreal home. Trudeau explained he had a few friends over for a dinner party while his children were at their grandmother's for the night. One of his “friends lit a joint and passed it around”. Trudeau said he “had a puff”. Also, he said he’s only smoked pot five or six times in his life, explaining his decision to use was personal and that adults should be allowed to make their own decisions. Likewise, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair has admitted to using cannabis, but wouldn’t say when he last smoked the drug. Prime Minister Stephen Harper claims to have never tried cannabis because he suffers from asthma, further proving how little he knows about the substance, as it can also be eaten or consumed with a vaporizer. Trudeau points out that Canadians have wanted to legalize cannabis for a long time, but no one has been willing “to face down the Conservative attack machine”. As expected, Conservative and NDP members attacked the Liberal leader’s pot-smoking admission, saying it proves he is unfit to govern. Justice Minister Peter MacKay criticized what he called a "profound lack of judgment" from Trudeau. He said "by flouting the laws of Canada while holding elected office, he shows he is a poor example for all Canadians, particularly young ones". Liberal Senator James Cowan called MacKay’s comments “ridiculous” and said people will likely find Trudeau’s admission refreshing. When asked for his thoughts, Harper said "For Mr. Trudeau, I think those actions speak for themselves and I don't have anything to add”. According to Trudeau, it is up to the “prohibitionists” to establish through evidence that cannabis should remain illegal, but they cannot because the science just isn’t there. The Liberal leader’s logical stance is in stark contrast to Harper’s current rhetoric and enforcement-driven approach to drugs. Since he became Prime Minister in 2006, arrests for cannabis possession have increased more than 41%, harsh mandatory minimum sentences have been added for people growing as few as six plants, and Canada’s prisons have been overflowing with inmates. In the face of all evidence, Harper says "I know some people say if you just legalized it you’d get the money and all would be well. But I think that rests on the assumption that somehow drugs are bad because they’re illegal ... The reason drugs are illegal is because they are bad." When there are government-run liquor stores and the Canadian maple leaf is emblazoned on every pack of cigarettes sold in the country, it’s difficult to comprehend his reluctance. Harper, and most other old politicians, drink plenty of alcohol, but still will not legalize a safer drug. According to Statistics Canada, about 6,700 Canadians die from alcohol every year; the CDC says more than 37,000 Americans die from alcohol annually. Moreover, cannabis has never caused a death. People overdose on alcohol while it is impossible to overdose on cannabis. According to the official publication of the Scientific Research Society, American Scientist, alcohol is one of the most toxic drugs causing hundreds of overdoses each year. Furthermore, health-related costs for alcohol consumers are eight times greater than those for cannabis consumers, according to a report by the British Columbia Mental Health and Addictions Journal. More specifically, the annual cost of alcohol consumption is $165 per user, compared to $20 per cannabis user. In addition, alcohol use damages the brain while cannabis use does not; a growing number of studies indicate that cannabis actually protects brain cells from harm. Also, alcohol use is linked to a wide variety of cancers while cannabis is not. In fact, one study released in 2006, conducted by Dr. Donald Tashkin at the University of California, found that cannabis smoking was not associated with an increased risk of developing lung cancer. The researchers found that people who smoked pot actually had lower incidences of cancer compared to non-users of the drug. Alcohol is also more addictive than cannabis, increases the risk of injury, and contributes to violent behaviour, crimes, and domestic and sexual assault. Cannabis does none of these things. Despite these facts, in Canada, if you are caught drinking in public, you may receive a $125 fine. Those caught with a joint, on the other hand, can face a $1,000 fine, six months in jail, or both. To make it worse, the Conservative government has made it more difficult for medical cannabis users to obtain their medication. This includes not allowing them to grow their own. Based on the Conservative Party’s decades old policies and rhetoric, they’re either incompetent imbeciles who cannot see the evidence before them, or they know the truth and just don’t care. Both possibilities are shameful and should be unacceptable when it comes to our elected government officials. Even Canada’s police chiefs are asking the conservative government to tone down harsh cannabis laws. They recently asked to allow police to give tickets for cannabis possession. In reality, this is only a tiny step forward as it will still allow police to act as thugs taking a user’s money – and most likely their cannabis as well. These shake-downs are going to happen to medical cannabis users, college and university students, and other people who have the right to consume a drug scientifically proven to be less harmful and addicting than alcohol, tobacco, and even caffeine, among many others. Instead of worrying about the paperwork involved with cannabis legalization and delaying the inevitable, why not listen to the majority of Canadians asking you to do the right thing. Legalize Cannabis. References BigBudsMagazine. (n.d.). Cannabis grow time lapse video. BigBudsMagazine. Cannabis Culture Magazine. (n.d.). Stephen Harper talks about mandatory minimums on YouTube. Cannabis Culture Magazine. Chase, S. (2013, August 22). Harper says Trudeau pot revelations ‘speak for themselves’. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from http://theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-says- trudeau-pot-revelations-speak-for-themselves/article13912540/ Christie, C., & Killeen, M. (n.d.). Trudeau declares support for legal pot with Dana Larsen. CTV News. CBC News. (2013, August). Trudeau says he supports legalizing marijuana. CBC News. CTV News. (2013). Health Canada proposes changes to medical pot policy. CTV News. Drewa, A. (n.d.). Liberal party for marijuana legalization.