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Canada is About To Legalize Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on October 04, 2018 at 06:51:46 PT
By Kurtis Lee
Source: Los Angeles Times
Canada -- Politicians herald it as transformative. Residents offer resounding support in the polls. Investors see billions of dollars on the horizon.When Canada legalizes marijuana on Oct. 17, it will join Uruguay as the only countries to allow recreational cannabis nationwide. The South American country became the first in 2013.
The effort, years in the making, is unlike the piecemeal approaches to marijuana legalization that have been passed in the United States and the Netherlands. For pot proponents around the world, Canada’s implementation of legal marijuana is being closely watched.Here’s a glimpse at how the country has arrived on the cusp of legalization.OK, when did this pro-legalization push begin?It started nearly five years ago as Justin Trudeau campaigned for leadership of his Liberal Party.“I’m in favor of legalizing it,” Trudeau told supporters in British Columbia in early 2013 when asked about marijuana prohibition. “Tax it, regulate. It’s one of the only ways to keep it out of the hands of our kids, because the current war on drugs, the current model is not working.”Trudeau’s pro-legalization message continued as he assumed leadership of the Liberal Party and then into Canada’s 2015 federal election. He urged Canadians to look south at how legalization was working in Colorado and Washington state, where, in 2012, voters were the first in the United States to pass legalization measures.“The fact of the matter is our current approach on marijuana … is failing in two primary ways. The first one is it is not protecting our kids from the negative impacts of marijuana on the developing brain,” Trudeau said as he campaigned in January 2014. “Secondly, we are funneling millions upon millions of dollars each year into organized crime and criminal gangs. We do not need to be funding those organizations.”What happened when Trudeau became prime minister?A committee, with Trudeau’s support, was created in Parliament to explore the issue of legalization. The panel, known as the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation, explored, among other things, whether legalizing by province would be better than nationwide legalization. Ultimately they decided on the latter.In April 2017, the Cannabis Act was introduced in Parliament. It allowed for the sale and possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for anyone over the age of 18. Each of Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories, however, are responsible for setting up a system to regulate legal sales. (Medical marijuana has been allowed in Canada since 2001.)The Cannabis Act passed Parliament this June. At the time, Trudeau announced it would take effect Oct. 17.How is the legal recreational system going to work in Canada?It’ll be different based on province. While the Cannabis Act makes marijuana legal nationwide, provinces have set up different regulatory systems.Some provinces will have only government-run dispensaries, while others will have a mix of government and private dispensaries. A majority of the provinces will allow online sales — yes, Canadians will be able to order cannabis on the internet and have it delivered through the mail.Alberta, for example, will allow privately run dispensaries — like the ones you might see in Denver or Los Angeles — while the government will oversee online sales. Meanwhile, in Nova Scotia, marijuana will be sold alongside alcohol at stores now run by the Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. And in Ontario, the most populated province, the government has created the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corp., which will be a wholesaler to private retail stores.Public support in each province is high. To the south, the Pew Research Center places support in the United States for nationwide legalization at about 60%. Are big sales expected?Yes. The financial firm Deloitte projects that in the first year, recreational sales could bring in nearly $4 billion in sales. Legal marijuana in the country will have an excise tax of 10% on the product price, or $1 per gram, whichever is higher. Each province will also apply its own sales taxes.How does this differ from the United States?Although members of Congress, mostly Democrats, have floated the idea of federal legalization, it has not gained traction. Last year, Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey introduced legislation aimed at ending federal prohibition on marijuana. To date, it’s stalled in the Senate.However, movement on legalization remains active at the state level.So far, nine states — Colorado, California and Massachusetts among them — have legalized marijuana, mainly through ballot measures. (Vermont is the only state to do so through its Legislature.) This fall, two more states — Michigan and North Dakota — will have ballot measures calling for the legalization of recreational marijuana.What have U.S. government officials said about Canada legalizing?Not much. Marijuana in the United States is still listed as a Schedule I drug — the same classification as heroin.Trump administration officials have not weighed in on Canada’s effort; some, however, such as Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, continue to voice opposition to legal sales in the United States. Last year, Sessions expressed his disapproval of legal pot.“I am definitely not a fan of expanded use of marijuana,” Sessions said. (In 2016, he characterized marijuana as a “very real danger.”)Cannabis proponents, meanwhile, have lauded Canada’s legalization as a seismic shift.Steve Hawkins, executive director of Marijuana Policy Project, a group dedicated to ending marijuana prohibitions, said, “Canada is demonstrating how marijuana prohibition can be ended at the federal level and replaced with a system of regulated production and sales.“It sets a strong example for the U.S. and other countries around the world, which will have the opportunity to learn from its experience,” Hawkins said.Kurtis Lee is a national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, who frequently reports on the nation's debate over guns, the evolution of marijuana legalization and how Trump administration policies are affecting states. He's filed reports from the unrest in Ferguson, Mo., chronicled Donald Trump's rise to the presidency and explored issues surrounding voter ID laws. Prior to joining The Times in August 2014, Lee worked for three years at the Denver Post where he covered state and national politics. He’s also reported from the scenes of destructive wildfires and mass shootings and was a member of the Post staff that won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news coverage of the Aurora theater shooting. He’s a Colorado native and a graduate of Temple University.Source: Los Angeles Times (CA) Author: Kurtis LeePublished: October 4, 2018Copyright: 2018 Los Angeles TimesContact: letters latimes.comWebsite: http://www.latimes.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/yEP6OT0cCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #19 posted by afterburner on October 14, 2018 at 18:02:31 PT
Back to Condos vs. Medical Cannabis
MARIJUANA FAQ.
Will a medical marijuana prescription allow me to smoke at work or in my condo?
Both employers and condo boards can insist on a reasonable compromise, and safety trumps all.
by Rosemary Counter.
Oct 11, 2018
https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/will-a-medical-marijuana-prescription-allow-me-to-smoke-at-work-or-in-my-condo/In this and following articles it becomes clear that more research is and will be happening. This should reduce unwarranted fears and help users focus on strains and procedures that minimize any harm from misuse. Harm reduction, yo!
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #18 posted by Hope on October 11, 2018 at 23:35:02 PT
Afterburner
I really liked the Anil Sthankiya article. I like the way he writes. That last one... from the article you shared in comment 17 is a bit disturbing as are some of the comments, no doubt made by angry prohibitionists. At least two people in the comments, so far, believe that cannabis and it's effects are a brand new thing and we don't have a clue what the long term or short term effects would be. And so much rage among the prohibs in Canada. The things they blame cannabis for. Wow! Very interesting.
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Comment #17 posted by afterburner on October 10, 2018 at 12:15:30 PT
Warning: Cannabis Ahead
POLITICS.
10/09/2018 18:38 EDT | Updated 14 hours ago.
Ontario Government Ads To Warn Of Cannabis' ‘Serious Health And Addiction Risks.’
"It should go without saying that these ads do not promote cannabis use or the cannabis market."
Shawn Jeffords, Canadian Press
https://m.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/10/09/ontario-government-cannabis-ads_a_23555913/?utm_source=spotim&utm_medium=spotim_recirculation&spotim_referrer=recirculation
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #16 posted by afterburner on October 09, 2018 at 12:37:43 PT
Struggle On Indeed
The Kush Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved
By Anil on September 17, 2018
https://www.cannabisculture.com/content/2018/09/17/the-kush-kentucky-derby-is-decadent-and-depraved/
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #15 posted by John Tyler on October 08, 2018 at 08:30:39 PT
The struggle continues
I was afraid that might be the case. I was hoping Canada would be different. This is what these brave pioneers get. They do all of the front end work, fight the battles, and do the sacrificing (like getting a criminal record or worse) then when things are “safe” the moneyed corporations with the politician in tow swoop in and take over. They pass rules and regulations that favor themselves. The pioneers are pushed out, or thrown out, because they are not the “right kind of people”, they have may have engaged in some “unsavory activities” (like calling for human rights or social justice), they might have a criminal record, or just make up something, anything to exclude them. When you are between a greedy group and a source of a whole lot of money; watch out, you will get run off, or run over. I think history will bear that out.Unfortunately, the Golden Rule still applies…those with the gold make the rules.The struggle for social justice is never easy, and never ends. Keep up the good work.
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Comment #14 posted by Hope on October 07, 2018 at 14:41:48 PT
I think Marc is not happy with it.
They have also pretty much effectively gagged him and are forcing him to be quieter than he'd probably like to be. He can't even set his wife on them to deliver his message. They've pretty much silenced them with legal penalties, it looks to me like. But if he's well, and he lives long enough... he will overcome this present state of affairs and rise into the mainstream consciousness again so that he can encourage citizens to correct an injustice. Unless he's just tired of it all. I wouldn't blame him if he lay down the torch. I haven't read much lately, but I do remember reading he wasn't happy with how it was shaping up some time ago. I expect him to be back and be loud about correcting issues with the return of this liberty to at least some of the people... to a degree. At least more than it was. He looks a bit unhappy and maybe like a lot is bothering him, from some photographs I've seen.
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Comment #13 posted by Sam Adams on October 07, 2018 at 09:43:33 PT
Marc
If we're going to mention Marc we should talk about how he is disgusted with Canada's "legalization" law and how Marc and all his business partners and associates will not be able to enter the "legal" industry.There will be no small farmers, no neighborhood businesses....just corporate monopolies. Only 4 plants cannabis plants will be allowed at home, and Quebec and Manitoba have actually banned home growing, even though that is not allowed under federal "legalization". Those wanting to do cannabis gardening in Quebec will have to sue the province if they want to proceed.
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Comment #12 posted by The GCW on October 06, 2018 at 18:56:00 PT
Hope,
mentioned Emery the other day and I didn't comment but wanted to say right on.Emery gave up His freedom for the effort. As noted by other's.Canada has been helped by Marc Emery and He may one day get national and even international attention for the great work and sacrifices He made.I'm happy with this news and trust Marc is too.
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Comment #11 posted by afterburner on October 06, 2018 at 15:10:28 PT
YouTube of Marc's Summer of Legalization Stop
The Summer of Legalization Smoke-Out Tour: Dauphin, Manitoba [2of2 ...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LCxahpYH4aY
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Comment #10 posted by afterburner on October 06, 2018 at 14:51:29 PT
Marc Emery Was Shackled in Winnipeg, Manitoba...
During the Summer of Legalization 2003. Just like Bobby Seale was after the 1968 Democratic Convention protests. The powers that be split Bobby from the Chicago 8 leaving the rest to be the Chicago 7. That's the way it was. And the strong-arm police tactics against the protesters got plenty of support from certain elements of society, just as the policing in Ferguson, Missouri, did. 1969 Bobby Seale gagged during his trial
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bobby-seale-gagged-during-his-trial
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Comment #9 posted by Hope on October 06, 2018 at 11:00:16 PT
John Tyler
About Marc Emery. He does deserve recognition and respect. Marc fought hard and long for the freedom that Canadians are on the verge of enjoying. There were and are others, too. Many more. But he was one that stuck his neck out early on. Certainly not the first, or the only, or the last, by any means, but he certainly threw himself at it like a martyr for the cause. He was loud. How else was he likely to be heard by so many in the mainstream population? He had the gift of loud and on the scene like Trump always did, and he did use it for good. He believed people should have the right to use the plant without fear of government enforcement troopers busting in and killing someone over it. In the days he started being loud about it, even just the possibility or rumor of the presence of the plant could cause all kinds of hideous, bad things to happen to people. And those hideous bad things happened a lot. A lot of people suffered. All over the world. I still don't understand why so many people seemed to accept that that was all ok.Mormon church policy? You're probably right about that. I can't imagine.
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Comment #8 posted by John Tyler on October 06, 2018 at 08:14:51 PT
Thank you Marc
Marc Emery has been on the forefront working and sacrificing for cannabis legalization for many years(since 1994). He has been a tireless advocate for legal cannabis and was given the title “Prince of Pot” by the media for his efforts. He deserves a lot of credit and a place in the Cannabis Hall of Fame for his efforts.
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Comment #7 posted by John Tyler on October 06, 2018 at 07:54:13 PT
staying relevant
I think the Mormon Church got on board with the medical cannabis issue was because all signs showed that it was going to pass anyway and the church needed to stay relevant to survive. That is to say, how could the church condemn their own members for using medical cannabis and keep expecting their financially support?
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on October 05, 2018 at 14:25:31 PT
Very interesting.
Mormon church backs deal to allow medical marijuana in Utahhttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/10/04/utah-mormon-church-supports-medical-marijuana/1527873002/
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Comment #5 posted by Hope on October 05, 2018 at 13:24:42 PT
To clarify.
Comment 4 is in reference to this article in the LA Times.
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on October 05, 2018 at 13:21:39 PT
Really?
"OK, when did this pro-legalization push begin?It started nearly five years ago as Justin Trudeau campaigned for leadership of his Liberal Party."
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Comment #3 posted by Hope on October 05, 2018 at 12:54:27 PT
Just thinking.
All this big business cannabis stuff. You know what it goes to show? It shows that the underground market was more vast, dense and HUGE than I'd comprehended. And I comprehended it as pretty vast.
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Comment #2 posted by Hope on October 04, 2018 at 20:36:16 PT
Don't forget Marc Emery!
He was a warrior and he fought many, many years for this day! He persevered through hell and high water and lots of hate. He should be remembered. He should be saluted! Thank you, Marc Emery for all you've done and for doing it for so darn long.Thank you very much.
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Comment #1 posted by The GCW on October 04, 2018 at 14:52:05 PT
Exciting
October 17 is HUGE.Oh Canada
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