The basic argument was that legalization would take the out of the criminal system, keep pot away from young people, control the quality of the substance and the government would make some money from taxation.
Of course nothing ever runs as smoothly as it should. Laws and regulations proved to be a challenge. We have ten provinces and two territories. They are responsible for the sale and control of cannabis. So each jurisdiction makes up their own rules and guess what they're all different. So as you go from one province to the next , you'd better be sure of the rules. Things get more complicated if you travel out of the country.
Institutions and businesses have a challenge controlling use by their employees. The army says eight hours after use and you're good to go out and use guns. Some police forces have outright ban the use of cannabis. There's a big debate about when you are impaired and when you are not impaired.
The challenge is that there are different levels of potency of pot and each person reacts differently.
Now the closer we got to legalization day the more frantic were the efforts to get ready.
Driving while high seemed to be one of the main topics. As of yet, there doesn't seem to be a reliable test for driving high. Telling people where they can and cannot smoke pot was pretty easy.
So today pot was the number one topic in the media.
I'm sitting back and thinking that pot smoking has been going on and we only had a law making it illegal. No other regulations were needed.
Now don't get me wrong. I believe that legalization is the way to go. Regulations are necessary.
It seems that too big a fuss is being made over the issue.
Yes I agree so much fuss over the issue. I wonder if the same thing happened when liquor was finally legalized so many years ago. I'm also thinking Canada probably learned something from Amsterdam. There are several other countries that want to legalize pot on the African continent and although pot is still illegal in USA, many of their states have legalized it long before Canada did.
ReplyDeleteProhibition was from another age with different media.
DeletePot is legal here in Washington State and has been now for several years. Since I don't pay much attention to it, I don't know how it is working out. I think the black market is still functioning, but a lot of people are taking advantage of legal pot stores. There have been adjustments, especially as pertaining to medical marijuana. There are rules about growing your own. There are rules about what quantities can be sold or possessed. I guess it's working OK. I do think marijuana usage is up. Is that a good thing?? Oh, and since it is still illegal at the federal level, pot stores are cash only, because of banking issues, and that leads to robberies of pot stores.
ReplyDeleteI expect issues will arise here and changes will have to be made along way. Just because it's legal doesn't mean it's good for you.
DeleteI agree with you there; what's the big deal? It's not as if legalizing it is suddenly going to create new smokers and new stoned drivers that were never smoking before or driving after smoking before. But it will keep people out of the courts for smoking it and it will put some money in government coffers instead of organized crime coffers. I'm all for it. -Kate
ReplyDeleteYou've got the issue summed up. thanks for visiting Hiawatha House.
DeleteThey have to talk about something and pot is an easy target. Next week it will be Justin Trudeaus socks or something
ReplyDeleteIt's too easy for the press to look for an easy topic. They don't want to look into a topic to any depth.
DeleteI live in Washington state where recreational use has been allowed for years now. I don't think there's been a huge problem with driving, but as always, there will be some people who drink and drive, or smoke and drive. They are usually young and male, if you don't mind me being cheeky about it. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou may feel cheeky about the young male comment but it's absolutely true.
DeleteUm, 10 provinces and THREE territories!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, too much of a fuss. People have been using it for many years.
I stand corrected. I don't think there will be much more use .
DeleteWhen we were kids, every time we got busted for pot, we told the cops that when we grew up, we'd legalize it. Never should have been illegal anyway.
ReplyDeleteCannabis had bad press.
DeleteI agree with legalization and regulation. That said, I find it a vile habit.
ReplyDeleteYes, I've never used it for recreation but I will be checking to see if I can use it for my arthritis pain.
DeleteI agree that legalization is the way to go. It will be interesting to see how Canada settles all the little questions that will no doubt arise re. the enforcement of this law. Meanwhile, at least you have some new tax revenue coming in!
ReplyDeleteWe'll get there as far as regulations are concerned. We have to.
Deletehopefully more control and less money spent on courts will be in favor
ReplyDeleteAgreed.
DeleteEventually the chatter about it will fade away until something bad happens while under the influence and it makes the news.
ReplyDeleteyes, the press needs stories. The first day they caught a guy smoking and driving. It cost him $671.00
DeleteIt's all new and like anything else that's new, there is hysteria :) When the excitement dies down, everyone will calm down.
ReplyDeleteIt will die down when the next issue comes along.
DeleteI think I'm more on the side of decriminalization of pot rather than the legalization of pot. But then it also dismays me to see so many brewing stores and so many people with a high intake of beer and wine. I think in twenty to fifty years we may see an increase in liver-related problems with the normalization of alcohol, and probably some other kind of medical issue with pot consumption.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on alcohol consumption these days. It's absurd.
DeleteYeah Canada! I heard 8 Billion a year for the coffers...the US should get on the band wagon too...perhaps after they see how well it goes in Canada:)
ReplyDeleteI'm sick of hearing about it! Also not a fan of legalization but majority rules. My lawyer husband thinks the whole thing is going to be a legal nightmare that will give him lots more work!
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see how this all unfolds there. Pot is legal here in California. There are some restrictions on who gets to grow it and where you can buy it, but so far things seem to be okay here. We live in the pot-growing capital of California, and that was true even before legalization.
ReplyDeleteHello, I agree. legalizing the pot is the way to go. The tax money I am sure will be welcome. As with beer, wine and any kind of drug, people will need to learn their limit. I am not a smoker ( just occasional wine and beer) of any kind, but I do not have a problem with other people doing what they want. Enjoy your weekend.
ReplyDeleteThis should have been done long ago, but now I am hearing that police departments are asking for more money for enforcement. Wouldn't it make more sense that we moved the money (that was wasted enforcing a bad law) to departments that actually target real criminals? I think that after the initial pain is worked out, the people that smoked before will continue to and the people who didn't won't.
ReplyDeleteSeems like talking about and doing something about regulations now, after the fact, is a little like putting the cart before the horse!
ReplyDeleteColorado was the first State to legalize pot. As such, we were watched and studied by all other states and many countries. I, for one, think it has worked out very well. Yes, there are problems. Yes, this takes constant surveillance. Just like anything else, there are a few bad apples. We still cannot go over the border with a stash. You still are arrested when impaired, whether by pot or booze. Etc., etc.