Pubdate: Tue, 10 Jan 2017
Source: Brock Press, The (CN ON Edu)
Copyright: 2017 The Brock Press.
Contact:  http://www.brockpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2865
Author: Luiz Brasil

CANADA GROWS CLOSER TO LEGALIZING POT

Legal marijuana in Canada will take the shape of a tightly controlled
and heavily regulated market, according to a panel appointed by Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau. The panel was created last year to
investigate the issue of marijuana legalization in Canada. They've
urged the creation of an environment where adults can safely and
legally use marijuana, while also cracking down on the cannabis black
market.

The panel was chaired by former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Anne
McLellan. Their final report states their recommendations, if put into
effect, will "strike a balance between implementing appropriate
restrictions, in order to minimize the harms associated with cannabis
use, and providing adults access to a regulated supply of cannabis
while reducing the scope and scale of the illicit market and its
social harms."

Trudeau plans to put forward legislation based on the panel's report
this spring.

The panel's key recommendations regarding legalization
include:

- - Set a national minimum age of purchase of 18

- - Sell only through specialty stores

- - Restrict the ability to advertise and promote the consumption of
marijuana and related merchandise, similar to the way tobacco is regulated

- - Price based on potency

- - Inform Canadians of the facts of marijuana consumption and its
effect on health through an evidence-informed public education campaign

- - Stronger penalties for selling marijuana outside the legal
framework

The Liberal Party's stance on the issue is clearly outlined on their
website, where they state, "We will legalize, regulate and restrict
access to marijuana."

"Canada's current system of marijuana prohibition does not work," they
continue. "It does not prevent young people from using marijuana and
too many Canadians end up with criminal records for possessing small
amounts of the drug."

By legalizing marijuana and creating a tightly controlled market, the
Liberal Party hopes to make it more difficult for minors to acquire
the drug, as well as take the profits that currently go to the black
market.

These profits are likely immense, if the experience of legalizing
marijuana in Colorado is any indication. Last year marijuana sales
brought in over a billion dollars, leading to an increase in tax
revenue that is being used to build new schools and improve current
ones, as well as to fund health programs.

Advocates for legalizing marijuana in the United States face
uncertainty regarding President-elect Donald Trump's position on the
issue. Trump's pick for attorney general, Alabama senator Jeff
Sessions, has been vocal in opposing the legalization of the drug,
saying at one point that "good people don't smoke marijuana."

Trump himself has vowed to keep marijuana illegal federally. What
effect, if any, the swing in direction from its biggest neighbour will
have on Canada, remains to be seen.
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MAP posted-by: Matt