Quote:
Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda
Minors will always be able to get weed, same as booze. And I think it's hypocritical to tell someone at 18 that they're responsible enough to vote and join the military, but not responsible enough to determine what substances they use
|
You can make it 21 to buy, but 18 to use then. Some European countries have similar laws about alcohol (18 to buy, but 16 to consume).
I think you could keep it out of schools a little more at least by making the age a little higher. And I don't think it is hypocritical because they aren't really the same thing. In a democracy, you have the right to vote or make a living in a field that you are qualified for. You don't have a "right" to buy controlled substances, even if they are legally sold.
Yes, they (kids) will find a way to get it illegally and when incidents happen to minors from weed that was purchased legally by friends, it will cause a big hoopla. I would rather avoid that. If the age is 18, you just know that a lot of 18 year old grade 12 students are going to buy it legally to traffic in school, especially when it is still a new thing. The black market will still exist for kids for the time being, but in time I think it will shrink as legalization has time to settle in. At that point, it will be all about making sure that legal pot can be properly controlled. If you start the age at 18 now, it will be harder to move up if need be.
I just don't want some kids ruining the cause by getting bad press and then having the next government change the laws again. Better to be cautious at least at first IMO, then make the laws more relaxed as required. If you make the laws too relaxed from the get-go, then as soon as something goes wrong, all the people who opposed it will have a bone to pick at the next election.