A few weeks ago, as an exercise in civic awareness, students at a high school participated in a mock federal election. They predicted a massive Liberal sweep. I wondered if the results had more to do with the prevailing sentiment for change, or Justin Trudeau's campaign promise to legalize marijuana.

In homes with teens, dinner table conversations have no doubt entered new and interesting territory. "If the government makes it legal, can I buy it?"

The short answer is: No. Trudeau hasn't fleshed out the details of how legalized marijuana will be grown and distributed, but he has made clear one of his guiding priorities is to keep it out of the hands of minors. On the campaign trail, Trudeau frequently compared our failed enforcement-based approach with Prohibition, noting kids today can get their hands on marijuana more easily than alcohol.

[continues 276 words]

A few weeks ago, as an exercise in civic awareness, students at a high school participated in a mock federal election. They predicted a massive Liberal sweep. I wondered if the results had more to do with the prevailing sentiment for change, or Justin Trudeau's campaign promise to legalize marijuana.

In homes with teens, dinner table conversations have no doubt entered new and interesting territory. "If the government makes it legal, can I buy it?"

The short answer is: No. Trudeau hasn't fleshed out the details of how legalized marijuana will be grown and distributed, but he has made clear one of his guiding priorities is to keep it out of the hands of minors. On the campaign trail, Trudeau frequently compared our failed enforcement-based approach with Prohibition, noting kids today can get their hands on marijuana more easily than alcohol.

[continues 276 words]

A few weeks ago, as an exercise in civic awareness, students at a high school participated in a mock federal election. They predicted a massive Liberal sweep. I wondered if the results had more to do with the prevailing sentiment for change, or Justin Trudeau's campaign promise to legalize marijuana.

In homes with teens, dinner table conversations have no doubt entered new and interesting territory. "If the government makes it legal, can I buy it?"

The short answer is: No. Trudeau hasn't fleshed out the details of how legalized marijuana will be grown and distributed, but he has made clear one of his guiding priorities is to keep it out of the hands of minors. On the campaign trail, Trudeau frequently compared our failed enforcement-based approach with Prohibition, noting kids today can get their hands on marijuana more easily than alcohol.

[continues 276 words]

A few weeks ago, as an exercise in civic awareness, students at a high school participated in a mock federal election. They predicted a massive Liberal sweep. I wondered if the results had more to do with the prevailing sentiment for change, or Justin Trudeau's campaign promise to legalize marijuana.

In homes with teens, dinner table conversations have no doubt entered new and interesting territory. "If the government makes it legal, can I buy it?"

The short answer is: No. Trudeau hasn't fleshed out the details of how legalized marijuana will be grown and distributed, but he has made clear one of his guiding priorities is to keep it out of the hands of minors. On the campaign trail, Trudeau frequently compared our failed enforcement-based approach with Prohibition, noting kids today can get their hands on marijuana more easily than alcohol.

[continues 276 words]

A few weeks ago, as an exercise in civic awareness, students at a high school participated in a mock federal election. They predicted a massive Liberal sweep. I wondered if the results had more to do with the prevailing sentiment for change, or Justin Trudeau's campaign promise to legalize marijuana.

In homes with teens, dinner table conversations have no doubt entered new and interesting territory. "If the government makes it legal, can I buy it?"

The short answer is: No. Trudeau hasn't fleshed out the details of how legalized marijuana will be grown and distributed, but he has made clear one of his guiding priorities is to keep it out of the hands of minors. On the campaign trail, Trudeau frequently compared our failed enforcement-based approach with Prohibition, noting kids today can get their hands on marijuana more easily than alcohol.

[continues 276 words]

A few weeks ago, as an exercise in civic awareness, students at a high school participated in a mock federal election. They predicted a massive Liberal sweep. I wondered if the results had more to do with the prevailing sentiment for change, or Justin Trudeau's campaign promise to legalize marijuana.

In homes with teens, dinner table conversations have no doubt entered new and interesting territory. "If the government makes it legal, can I buy it?"

The short answer is: No. Trudeau hasn't fleshed out the details of how legalized marijuana will be grown and distributed, but he has made clear one of his guiding priorities is to keep it out of the hands of minors. On the campaign trail, Trudeau frequently compared our failed enforcement-based approach with Prohibition, noting kids today can get their hands on marijuana more easily than alcohol.

[continues 276 words]

A few weeks ago, as an exercise in civic awareness, students at a high school participated in a mock federal election. They predicted a massive Liberal sweep. I wondered if the results had more to do with the prevailing sentiment for change, or Justin Trudeau's campaign promise to legalize marijuana.

In homes with teens, dinner table conversations have no doubt entered new and interesting territory. "If the government makes it legal, can I buy it?"

The short answer is: No. Trudeau hasn't fleshed out the details of how legalized marijuana will be grown and distributed, but he has made clear one of his guiding priorities is to keep it out of the hands of minors. On the campaign trail, Trudeau frequently compared our failed enforcement-based approach with Prohibition, noting kids today can get their hands on marijuana more easily than alcohol.

[continues 276 words]

A few weeks ago, as an exercise in civic awareness, students at a high school participated in a mock federal election. They predicted a massive Liberal sweep. I wondered if the results had more to do with the prevailing sentiment for change, or Justin Trudeau's campaign promise to legalize marijuana.

In homes with teens, dinner table conversations have no doubt entered new and interesting territory. "If the government makes it legal, can I buy it?"

The short answer is: No. Trudeau hasn't fleshed out the details of how legalized marijuana will be grown and distributed, but he has made clear one of his guiding priorities is to keep it out of the hands of minors. On the campaign trail, Trudeau frequently compared our failed enforcement-based approach with Prohibition, noting kids today can get their hands on marijuana more easily than alcohol.

[continues 276 words]

A few weeks ago, as an exercise in civic awareness, students at a high school participated in a mock federal election. They predicted a massive Liberal sweep. I wondered if the results had more to do with the prevailing sentiment for change, or Justin Trudeau's campaign promise to legalize marijuana.

In homes with teens, dinner table conversations have no doubt entered new and interesting territory. "If the government makes it legal, can I buy it?"

The short answer is: No. Trudeau hasn't fleshed out the details of how legalized marijuana will be grown and distributed, but he has made clear one of his guiding priorities is to keep it out of the hands of minors. On the campaign trail, Trudeau frequently compared our failed enforcement-based approach with Prohibition, noting kids today can get their hands on marijuana more easily than alcohol.

[continues 276 words]

A few weeks ago, as an exercise in civic awareness, students at a high school participated in a mock federal election. They predicted a massive Liberal sweep. I wondered if the results had more to do with the prevailing sentiment for change, or Justin Trudeau's campaign promise to legalize marijuana.

In homes with teens, dinner table conversations have no doubt entered new and interesting territory. "If the government makes it legal, can I buy it?"

The short answer is: No. Trudeau hasn't fleshed out the details of how legalized marijuana will be grown and distributed, but he has made clear one of his guiding priorities is to keep it out of the hands of minors. On the campaign trail, Trudeau frequently compared our failed enforcement-based approach with Prohibition, noting kids today can get their hands on marijuana more easily than alcohol.

[continues 276 words]

A few weeks ago, as an exercise in civic awareness, students at a high school participated in a mock federal election. They predicted a massive Liberal sweep. I wondered if the results had more to do with the prevailing sentiment for change, or Justin Trudeau's campaign promise to legalize marijuana.

In homes with teens, dinner table conversations have no doubt entered new and interesting territory. "If the government makes it legal, can I buy it?"

The short answer is: No. Trudeau hasn't fleshed out the details of how legalized marijuana will be grown and distributed, but he has made clear one of his guiding priorities is to keep it out of the hands of minors. On the campaign trail, Trudeau frequently compared our failed enforcement-based approach with Prohibition, noting kids today can get their hands on marijuana more easily than alcohol.

[continues 276 words]

A few weeks ago, as an exercise in civic awareness, students at a high school participated in a mock federal election. They predicted a massive Liberal sweep. I wondered if the results had more to do with the prevailing sentiment for change, or Justin Trudeau's campaign promise to legalize marijuana.

In homes with teens, dinner table conversations have no doubt entered new and interesting territory. "If the government makes it legal, can I buy it?"

The short answer is: No. Trudeau hasn't fleshed out the details of how legalized marijuana will be grown and distributed, but he has made clear one of his guiding priorities is to keep it out of the hands of minors. On the campaign trail, Trudeau frequently compared our failed enforcement-based approach with Prohibition, noting kids today can get their hands on marijuana more easily than alcohol.

[continues 276 words]

A few weeks ago, as an exercise in civic awareness, students at a high school participated in a mock federal election. They predicted a massive Liberal sweep. I wondered if the results had more to do with the prevailing sentiment for change, or Justin Trudeau's campaign promise to legalize marijuana.

In homes with teens, dinner table conversations have no doubt entered new and interesting territory. "If the government makes it legal, can I buy it?"

The short answer is: No. Trudeau hasn't fleshed out the details of how legalized marijuana will be grown and distributed, but he has made clear one of his guiding priorities is to keep it out of the hands of minors. On the campaign trail, Trudeau frequently compared our failed enforcement-based approach with Prohibition, noting kids today can get their hands on marijuana more easily than alcohol.

[continues 276 words]

A few weeks ago, as an exercise in civic awareness, students at a high school participated in a mock federal election. They predicted a massive Liberal sweep. I wondered if the results had more to do with the prevailing sentiment for change, or Justin Trudeau's campaign promise to legalize marijuana.

In homes with teens, dinner table conversations have no doubt entered new and interesting territory. "If the government makes it legal, can I buy it?"

The short answer is: No. Trudeau hasn't fleshed out the details of how legalized marijuana will be grown and distributed, but he has made clear one of his guiding priorities is to keep it out of the hands of minors. On the campaign trail, Trudeau frequently compared our failed enforcement-based approach with Prohibition, noting kids today can get their hands on marijuana more easily than alcohol.

[continues 276 words]

A few weeks ago, as an exercise in civic awareness, students at a high school participated in a mock federal election. They predicted a massive Liberal sweep. I wondered if the results had more to do with the prevailing sentiment for change, or Justin Trudeau's campaign promise to legalize marijuana.

In homes with teens, dinner table conversations have no doubt entered new and interesting territory. "If the government makes it legal, can I buy it?"

The short answer is: No. Trudeau hasn't fleshed out the details of how legalized marijuana will be grown and distributed, but he has made clear one of his guiding priorities is to keep it out of the hands of minors. On the campaign trail, Trudeau frequently compared our failed enforcement-based approach with Prohibition, noting kids today can get their hands on marijuana more easily than alcohol.

[continues 276 words]

A few weeks ago, as an exercise in civic awareness, students at a high school participated in a mock federal election. They predicted a massive Liberal sweep. I wondered if the results had more to do with the prevailing sentiment for change, or Justin Trudeau's campaign promise to legalize marijuana.

In homes with teens, dinner table conversations have no doubt entered new and interesting territory. "If the government makes it legal, can I buy it?"

The short answer is: No. Trudeau hasn't fleshed out the details of how legalized marijuana will be grown and distributed, but he has made clear one of his guiding priorities is to keep it out of the hands of minors. On the campaign trail, Trudeau frequently compared our failed enforcement-based approach with Prohibition, noting kids today can get their hands on marijuana more easily than alcohol.

[continues 276 words]

A few weeks ago, as an exercise in civic awareness, students at a high school participated in a mock federal election. They predicted a massive Liberal sweep. I wondered if the results had more to do with the prevailing sentiment for change, or Justin Trudeau's campaign promise to legalize marijuana.

In homes with teens, dinner table conversations have no doubt entered new and interesting territory. "If the government makes it legal, can I buy it?"

The short answer is: No. Trudeau hasn't fleshed out the details of how legalized marijuana will be grown and distributed, but he has made clear one of his guiding priorities is to keep it out of the hands of minors. On the campaign trail, Trudeau frequently compared our failed enforcement-based approach with Prohibition, noting kids today can get their hands on marijuana more easily than alcohol.

[continues 276 words]

A few weeks ago, as an exercise in civic awareness, students at a high school participated in a mock federal election. They predicted a massive Liberal sweep. I wondered if the results had more to do with the prevailing sentiment for change, or Justin Trudeau's campaign promise to legalize marijuana.

In homes with teens, dinner table conversations have no doubt entered new and interesting territory. "If the government makes it legal, can I buy it?"

The short answer is: No. Trudeau hasn't fleshed out the details of how legalized marijuana will be grown and distributed, but he has made clear one of his guiding priorities is to keep it out of the hands of minors. On the campaign trail, Trudeau frequently compared our failed enforcement-based approach with Prohibition, noting kids today can get their hands on marijuana more easily than alcohol.

[continues 276 words]

Tory Move Toward Addictions Focus Draws Cautious Applause

Mental health advocates are praising the Conservatives' plan to shift the mandate of the mental health commission to research linkages between drugs and mental illness, as long as it remains arm's-length from government and the politics of its anti-drug strategy.

The shift would mark a new and what many call long overdue chapter for the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), which since its creation in 2007 has steered clear of addictions research and focused on priorities such as reducing stigma, mental health in the workplace and helping the homeless with mental illness.

[continues 911 words]

This week the Harper government, and the largely Conservative-appointed Senate, will effectively drive a nail into the coffins of thousands of Canadians living with addiction by passing legislation that will block the establishment of supervised injection facilities such as Vancouver's Insite.

Bill C-2, the ill-named Respect for Communities Act, which is likely to pass third reading in the Senate imminently, changes section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Canada's blanket prohibition on drugs. It establishes 26 new requirements applicants must meet before the feds will even consider an approval to operate a supervised injection facility. These requirements are unwarranted and will be, in many cases, impossible to satisfy.

[continues 581 words]