Pubdate: Wed, 08 Jan 2014
Source: Chronicle Herald (CN NS)
Copyright: 2014 The Halifax Herald Limited
Contact:  http://thechronicleherald.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/180

AS STATES LEGALIZE MARIJUANA, CANADA SHOULD PREPARE STRATEGY

Canadians this year are noticing a little something extra burning
south of the border, and it's not additional fuel to cope with the
cold snap.

Colorado and Washington have just made it legal to purchase a small
amount of marijuana, the first jurisdictions in the U.S. or Canada to
do so. Colorado is charging high production, retail and sales taxes
for the privilege.

Some cities, like Portland, Me., have also legalized marijuana use,
and three states may follow suit.

It's not a surprise. Polls in North America consistently show that
people don't regard smoking weed as something that should land users
heavy fines or jail time. In June 2012, 66 per cent of Canadians
polled by Ipsos-Reid said they supported either decriminalization or
legalization of marijuana. Even current and former politicians like
Justin Trudeau, Darrell Dexter, Kathleen Wynne, Jim Flaherty, Tom
Mulcair and Brad Wall say they've used the drug.

While society seems to be moving towards acceptance of marijuana use
and acknowledgement of the futility of spending millions of dollars
each year on trying to eradicate it, not everyone thinks it's time to
make toking A-OK.

Health advocates warn that beyond occasional use, smoking marijuana
can damage the lungs and cause cancer, and that the effects of
marijuana, like those of many drugs, can be more powerful and
potentially more harmful for teenagers.

Supporters say money saved from the war on drugs, specifically
marijuana, could be rechannelled into drug education and related
health-care initiatives.

It's unclear whether the Obama government will allow the states'
initiative and the continent is not yet awash with legal weed. But
with Colorado set to take in $2.1 billion in revenue over five years,
that will likely change.

We have advocated decriminalization of marijuana in the past, a move
that would have little effect on jurisdictions' bottom lines.

However, it will be hard for cash-strapped states and provinces to
resist the whiff of money in legal marijuana, particularly if adjacent
jurisdictions are raking it in.

Canada, which recently toughened its marijuana laws, is out of step
with society's moves towards liberalization of such laws. But, as they
did with liquor and gambling, other governments are realizing that if
you can't beat 'em, you might as well join 'em, and steer revenues
into the coffers of the state rather than the pockets of criminals.

It's unlikely that the Harper government will change course, but
Ottawa and the provinces should figure out how they will proceed on
the marijuana issue if laws in Colorado and Washington stand and other
states move to legalize.

Accommodating someone's wish to light up a joint is one thing, but
governments must also devise ways to control abuses like driving while
impaired and must ensure the drug is not easier for young people to
use.
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