Justin Trudeau says marijuana should be legalized

[Regulator75]

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/04..._9738222.html?

Federal Health Minister Jane Philpott dropped this little nugget of information on, of all days, April 20: legislation to legalize marijuana in Canada will be introduced in the spring of 2017.

Philpott made the announcement while in New York Wednesday, where she is leading the Canadian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly special session on drugs.

"I am proud to stand up for our drug policy that is informed by solid scientific evidence and uses a lens of public health to maximize education and minimize harm," she said.

"As a doctor, who has worked both in Canada and sub-Saharan Africa, I have seen too many people suffer the devastating consequences of drugs, drug-related crime and ill-conceived drug policy. Fortunately, solutions are within our grasp."

[flylock shox]

It can't happen soon enough.

The regulatory/criminal hybrid system is a mess.

[Tron_fdc]

So how does one become a legal grower of weed?

Hypothetically, if someone had a large vacant building and wanted to be a legal supplier, where would you start?

[FlamesAddiction]

It's funny how the opposition, who didn't even support this part of the platform, is now criticizing Trudeau for not honoring his promise to immediately introduce the bill. I guess the first 18 months isn't fast enough to implement something they don't even want in the first place.

This isn't a knock on the NDP or Conservatives as the Liberals would do the exact same thing if they were the opposition. It just makes it hard to take them seriously when you know they are being so contradictory just for the sake of it.

I agree that it can't happen soon enough though. There is a lot of due diligence that has to happen first though, including diplomatically backing away from international treaties. In the meantime, there should be decriminalization to some degree. A lot of people are going to get criminal records in the next year before legalization occurs.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

It's funny how the opposition, who didn't even support this part of the platform, is now criticizing Trudeau for not honoring his promise to immediately introduce the bill. I guess the first 18 months isn't fast enough to implement something they don't even want in the first place.

This isn't a knock on the NDP or Conservatives as the Liberals would do the exact same thing if they were the opposition. It just makes it hard to take them seriously when you know they are being so contradictory just for the sake of it.

I agree that it can't happen soon enough though. There is a lot of due diligence that has to happen first though, including diplomatically backing away from international treaties. In the meantime, there should be decriminalization to some degree. A lot of people are going to get criminal records in the next year before legalization occurs.

Nah, I think you were in the right direction in your first paragraph, it should be a knock by the NDP. They wanted to have their cake and eat it too on the portfolio of drugs and crime.

Mulcair is right, the federal government should issue an immediate moratorium on arrests and prosecutions as they look to alter the law.

This is like waiting for street signs to be delivered that show the new speed limit and ticketing people for going over the new limit.

[heep223]

Though I don't use pot and don't see why adults do, it should absolutely be legalized, regulated and taxed.

Bonus, we get to laugh at crotchety old conservative religious people yelling at clouds when it happens.

[Locke]

You know, I've been pretty staunchly in support of legalization so I was watching the news last night because I needed help falling asleep and its actually pretty funny.

I'm certain they cherry-picked the demographic with the most dubious employability. Seeing that Pot-Bazaar in Vancouver that looked like something out of a Medieval market or all of the Marijuana users toking up on Parliament Hill in celebration of...what? Its a WEDNESDAY. Get back to work, or did McDonald's give you the day off?

Further to that, I applaud the Marijuana using community to organize and appoint an official speaker. I especially liked her succinct solution to smoking weed before driving which was, and I cant make this up:

"Pot smokers wont do that unless they know they can."

Brilliant. Love it.

Before people start going and pointing the finger at drinking and driving be reminded that there are regulations in place to deter, apprehend and punish people who do it, but the Pot Smoker's Union has a stereotypically Pot Smoker solution to the problem.

"Dont worry about it."

[Erick Estrada]

I haven't invested much into this topic because I have no faith the government can pull this off properly but how exactly do they plan on combatting driving under the influence of pot? Check stops with a booth for urine analysis?

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by heep223

Though I don't use pot and don't see why adults do, it should absolutely be legalized, regulated and taxed.

Bonus, we get to laugh at crotchety old conservative religious people yelling at clouds when it happens.

...while they're on their way to pick up a 40 of rye from the liquor store.

That's one thing that always made me laugh when I was living in St. Albert; another wealthy, older, very conservative place. Many there were completely against it, yet you've never seen so many liquor stores in a city of less than 60K. The booze industry is very alive and well there.

Hey kettle, you're black...

[Muffins]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I haven't invested much into this topic because I have no faith the government can pull this off properly but how exactly do they plan on combatting driving under the influence of pot? Check stops with a booth for urine analysis?

No need for anything that scientific.

Just wave a bag of cool ranch Doritos in front of them. If they reach for it, BAM! DUI.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

...while they're on their way to pick up a 40 of rye from the liquor store.

That's one thing that always made me laugh when I was living in St. Albert; another wealthy, older, very conservative place. Many there were completely against it, yet you've never seen so many liquor stores in a city of less than 60K. The booze industry is very alive and well there.

Hey kettle, you're black...

I'm not going to get overly involved in this argument but it is possible to indulge in a drink or two and not become intoxicated. Pretty hard to smoke today's weed and not become totally stoned.

[polak]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

It's funny how the opposition, who didn't even support this part of the platform, is now criticizing Trudeau for not honoring his promise to immediately introduce the bill. I guess the first 18 months isn't fast enough to implement something they don't even want in the first place.

This isn't a knock on the NDP or Conservatives as the Liberals would do the exact same thing if they were the opposition. It just makes it hard to take them seriously when you know they are being so contradictory just for the sake of it.

This is everything wrong with politics. It should be collaborative and not a competition. ####ing stupid system. It's literally everything that is wrong with the world and that's not an exaggeration.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I'm not going to get overly involved in this argument but it is possible to indulge in a drink or two and not become intoxicated. Pretty hard to smoke today's weed and not become totally stoned.

But doesn't that come back to usage/tolerance levels? If someone rarely drinks, they probably would be buzzing pretty good after a couple. Just like someone who uses marijuana semi-regularly can have a small bowl and probably not really feel much aside from relaxation.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I haven't invested much into this topic because I have no faith the government can pull this off properly but how exactly do they plan on combatting driving under the influence of pot? Check stops with a booth for urine analysis?

Lets ask the police in washington state where it's been legal for a while now:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/interna...b_8100122.html

[polak]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

But doesn't that come back to usage/tolerance levels? If someone barely every drinks, they probably would be buzzing pretty good after a couple of drinks. Just like someone who uses marijuana semi-regularly can have a small bowl and probably not really feel much aside from relaxation.

I also doubt anyone that "just drinks a couple" every night doesn't get drunk every now and then too....

[AcGold]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I'm not going to get overly involved in this argument but it is possible to indulge in a drink or two and not become intoxicated. Pretty hard to smoke today's weed and not become totally stoned.

Blatantly false. I have a medical prescription and most of what I have has no intoxicating effect whatsoever, purely medicinal. When you get it illegally you have no idea but when it's regulated it can be purely medicine.

The driving thing; why is there a sudden need to change? There already is a protocol on dealing with it, my friend got his car taken for 3 days and a decently sized ticket. He never did it again. I've never heard or known of anyone that got in an accident or seriously injured (not that it doesn't happen). Maybe the government just needs to be more vocal about the pre existing laws.

The bigger issue is stopping young kids from doing it as it demonstrably lowers IQs for people that haven't yet reached physical maturity.

[Coach]

Me and some friends couldn't help but laugh at the little story "teaser" during the game. "Something about pot being legalized", cuts to the spokesperson making a rational stance on keeping children safer and taking money from criminals, then cuts to the most stereotypical crowd of potheads screaming about how amazing it is and a bunch of young people just heaving on bongs with dreads and tie-dye shirts.

How about the dude in the suit? Or the elderly people using it? Maybe even *SHOCK* a medicinal dispensary. We all laughed. If we were old conservatives against this, of course we'd see that and go "OH NOOO!!!!"

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by polak

Lets ask the police in washington state where it's been legal for a while now:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/interna...b_8100122.html

Boy there's a lot of grey area when it comes to proving weed impairment. Looks like anyone with money could easily get out of it due to the nature of how long the drug stays in your system and trying to prove impairment at the particular time of being pulled over.

[Hackey]

Maybe I'm naive about this but I don't really see things changing all that much. I think most people will continue behaving as they already are. I don't think legalization really changes all that much. Having weed bars all around the city might lead to more people driving stoned though which is something they will have to consider and deal with. I've seen they have tests they can do on the spot now which maybe/likely will be implemented. I think drunk driving will still be a much bigger issue though. With anything there are pros and cons but the pros for legalization for outweight the cons in my opinion so I'm glad its finally happening.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by AcGold

Blatantly false. I have a medical prescription and most of what I have has no intoxicating effect whatsoever, purely medicinal. When you get it illegally you have no idea but when it's regulated it can be purely medicine.

False for your particular circumstance but the recreational users don't use it for medical purposes. If it doesn't get you high people would just stick to tobacco.