Justin Trudeau says marijuana should be legalized

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

The latest government poll shows that the loosening of marijuana laws might not be the political liability that some people thought for Trudeau (despite the misleading headline of the article):

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/just...ests-1.2723656


Roughly 70% of Canadians want to see the laws relaxed (37% for full legalization and 33% for decriminalization). Only 26% want to maintain the status quo or increase penalties (14% and 12% respectively).

Does that article not also say that the opinions in actual focus groups said most want status quo? And that outside of BC there isn't the support?

CBC contradicts its own headline with the content in its article.

[nik-]

70% does seem high, but it's been over 50 for a while now I believe. I seem to remember it was in the mid 50's a few years back in another poll.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Does that article not also say that the opinions in actual focus groups said most want status quo? And that outside of BC there isn't the support?

CBC contradicts its own headline with the content in its article.

But that's not exactly what it says

"Most participants said they would like to see the federal government either leave the laws how they are now, or decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana with a fine rather than a criminal record," the polling firm reported.

I imagine the actual number who want nothing to change is in the high 20's or low 30's. But more people want some kind of change, decriminalization namely, than doing nothing. Most people readily admit the current laws accomplish nothing in regards to pot.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Does that article not also say that the opinions in actual focus groups said most want status quo? And that outside of BC there isn't the support?

CBC contradicts its own headline with the content in its article.

I am not sure if I trust focus groups though. They tend to often bias the people who assemble the focus groups.

One poll certainly doesn't end the argument though. They should have polls like this around census time and force people to answer.

[corporatejay]

Who are the 12 per cent who want an increase in penalty? That seems insane.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Who are the 12 per cent who want an increase in penalty? That seems insane.

old people

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Who are the 12 per cent who want an increase in penalty? That seems insane.

Prison guards, family members of those who work in the prison industry, some cops, some lawyers, alcohol companies and pharma companies etc...

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Who are the 12 per cent who want an increase in penalty? That seems insane.

The CPC caucus.

[Shawnski]

Originally Posted by nik-

70% does seem high....

LOL, ya think?

[Flash Walken]

The poll is also difficult to understand because of the frequency with which Canadians use decriminalization and legalization interchangeably.

[nik-]

I'm betting a lot of people don't really realize the differences, if they even know there's a difference at all.

[FlamesAddiction]

I think this was discussed in the American politics thread already, but probably worth mentioning here:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/marijua...s-no-1.2824149

Alaska, Oregon and DC joined Colorado and Washington in legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Florida declined to legalize it for any purpose.

Will this further help Trudeau's case? A lot of the argument against the legalization in Canada was due to the theoretical affect it could have on border crossings. I can't see that being a huge issue any more.

It is also mentioned that Colorado is on track for about $84 million dollars in revenue on marijuana sales and taxes (no mention of indirect financial gains through marijuana related tourism). It is a shame that by the time Canada does legalize it (and I am convinced it is only a matter of time now), that the U.S. will have a jump on the industry.

[CaptainCrunch]

Its probably the only policy point that I agree with from Trudeau, however I haven't seen anything that hints at how it would look or be implemented.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Its probably the only policy point that I agree with from Trudeau, however I haven't seen anything that hints at how it would look or be implemented.

I haven't researched it too hard, but it sounds like they are suggesting the liquor control boards of the provinces would be responsible for dispensing it. In that sense, the infrastructure is already there.

Like in Colorado, I expect the supply for the first while to be the real bottle neck. There are legal growing operations already for medical use, but I imagine that they won't be able to keep up with demand.

[Thor]

In Iceland the majority of the increase in crime in Iceland and a good chunk of the criminals are coming from eastern europe to take over from the old Icelandic criminals to control the distribution of drugs.

Because of this, our previously unarmed police have now secretly ordered glocks and mp5's for all police cars, cops still won't carry.

So the pirate party and lots of us have been debating and talking about legalization to take this money and power away from criminals and will cause many of them to even leave the country after legalization, but we still get the same nonsense from people you guys hear from your nei sayers, "omg but think of the children! More people will do it!"

Yep think of the children, legalization would hurt the organized crime element in Iceland deeply, make our country safer.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Thor

ISo the pirate party and lots of us have been debating and talking about legalization to take this money and power away from criminals and will cause many of them to even leave the country after legalization, but we still get the same nonsense from people you guys hear from your nei sayers, "omg but think of the children! More people will do it!"

Yep think of the children, legalization would hurt the organized crime element in Iceland deeply, make our country safer.

I can't speak directly to the Icelandic experience, obviously, but my take....

If someone wants marijuana, it wouldn't take more than one or two phone calls get some. Controlling availability is not (imo) a viable reason to oppose legalization. It's everywhere, and it's easily accessible.

I can appreciate/understand an arguement based on (potential) harmful effects, but the notion that legalization would suddenly make it widely available is just foolish (again, imo).

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

I can't speak directly to the Icelandic experience, obviously, but my take....

If someone wants marijuana, it wouldn't take more than one or two phone calls get some. Controlling availability is not (imo) a viable reason to oppose legalization. It's everywhere, and it's easily accessible.

I can appreciate/understand an arguement based on (potential) harmful effects, but the notion that legalization would suddenly make it widely available is just foolish (again, imo).

And it is exactly why making it legal doesn't mean more people will do it. It just means fewer people will need to go to jail and have their lives ruined for doing it.

It's not about controlling accessibility as much as it is about taking the power away from organized crime.

[Ducay]

How did we go from nearly decrim'ing it under liberals 15 years ago, when the US saw us a a liability to their war on drugs, to now, where they have whole states where it is legal and sold recreationally, and we're still stuck in the dark ages.

I can see Trudeau making big inroads with a legalization policy

[nik-]

Not only stuck in the dark ages, the government actually ran a "Marijuana is bad" commercial during HNIC the other week. I swear to god I thought I fell into a time machine and woke up in the 80's.

[GP_Matt]

Originally Posted by nik-

Not only stuck in the dark ages, the government actually ran a "Marijuana is bad" commercial during HNIC the other week. I swear to god I thought I fell into a time machine and woke up in the 80's.

Funny thing about that ad. I was called from a research company, a month or two ago, representing the Canadian Doctors Association (CMA I think) and the poll started about my thoughts on marijuana use and then segued into a statement that the Federal Government was planning to run an anti marijuana ad and they wanted to know if I supported having the CMA endorse the ad.

I said no and they did not support the ad. I would like to think the majority of people polled agreed with me. Either that, or I was the only one polled and my opinion just happens to carry a lot of weight. (Don't worry, I won't take the responsibility lightly.)