Article Link
On Wednesday October 17, Canada will be the first major industrialized country to fully decriminalize the recreational use of marijuana. This means that all adults can legally possess, grow, and purchase marijuana. All of Canada's 13 provinces are adopting new regulations to deal with possible conflicts that can result with the new legislation. For instance, there are concerns with a shortage of legal marijuana since the demand for it will inevitably be higher. This can possibly lead to the increase black market sale of marijuana. Canada's federal government may be in charge of licensing commercial cannabis growers and authorizing their products, its provinces still have jurisdiction over regulating distribution and retail sales of marijuana. Controlling the marijuana market will be difficult especially with the different laws for each province. Additionally, it will possibly be more difficult for Canadians to cross the border to the US if they purchase or use marijuana since it is still illegal in the United States. Even though the Canadian provinces and federal government have decriminalized marijuana, they still face a very similar situation as the US since some states have contradicting laws with the US federal government. The differing laws in state and federal governments in the US have created much contention between the two, but maybe Canada will avoid these conflicts since it will decriminalize marijuana altogether.
Discussion Questions:
1) Did Canada make the right decision in decriminalizing the use, purchase, and possession of marijuana nationally?
2) Should the provinces create universal marijuana regulations to avoid conflict in the future or should the provinces have the ability to have their own laws regarding marijuana?
3) How will Canada's decision to decriminalize influence US laws?
I believe Canada did make the right decision by decriminalizing marijuana. Canada's next step should be to create universal legalization within the provinces as well to minimize the conflict that will arise. The shortage of marijuana in Canada is an issue because it encourages black market sales, instead of purchasing it legally. I think Canada's new law wont affect laws in the US because the US wont allow the laws of another country to affect their own.
ReplyDeleteThe provinces should create universal marijuana regulations because it will decrease the amount of conflict in the near future. By provinces all having different regulations it will be confusing and harder to keep track of the different laws being broken and not being broken within each province. I don't see Canada's decriminializing marijuana influencing the US laws.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that a universal way of handling this new legislation would make it way easier for provinces to adapt to these laws, but I also find the value of provinces handling these laws by themselves. The demographics are surely different for each province and they should have the freedom to implement regulations that fits their populations the best.
DeleteThe provinces should create universal regulations rather than make their own laws. By having nationwide laws, this will reduce the conflict between the provincial and national governments. This will help to avoid similar conflict that we often see with states and the federal government in the U.S. I don't think this will influence U.S. laws regarding the use of marijuana.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Canada did the correct thing in decriminalizing marijuana. This is because it can provide a new source of revenue for Canada with marijuana taxes and is potentially less harmful than cigarettes. It could definitely influence US lawmakers since we and Canada share similar values and have a similar culture, so we may end up with less marijuana restrictions in the future.
ReplyDelete^ Jeremy Ho
DeleteI think that Canada did the right thing to decriminalize marijuana because it will be regulated at least a provincial level and they can make money by taxing marijuana. I think that the next step is to create universal regulations, so that there would be less dispute province to province. I don't think it will heavily impact the US laws regarding marijuana use, but it would push the US in the direction of legalization.
ReplyDeleteWhether Canada did the right thing to decriminalize marijuana is up to personal belief. Personally I think Canada is moving in the right direction by legalizing marijuana because this way all aspects of the trade can be monitored and controlled by the government, ultimately making it safer. I think each province should maintain the right to create their own laws and regulations. I imagine Canada's provinces similar to the US' states, and by allowing each state to regulate maintains their independence as provinces. As for the decisions influence on the US, if this decision turns out to be successful the US might follow in Canada's footsteps. For now the US probably views this as an experiment.
ReplyDeleteWhile having universal marijuana regulations within all the provinces would be ideal as there could be less potential for future conflict in marijuana laws, I believe it would be best for the provinces to have the ability to have their own laws regarding marijuana as each province seems to have a different situation economically and socially. In a province where marijuana could improve the economy, the province could create laws to ensure and aid in this improvement. However, in a province where the sale of marijuana could very negatively affect the social environment, the province could create laws limiting this. Meanwhile, when it comes to the effect Canada's decision will have on America, I believe it will affect American states to legalize marijuana. If that occurs, the sale of marijuana in North America would definitely be impacted
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, Canada's decision to decriminalize marijuana is a fair decision. Legalizing marijuana can benefit Canada's economy. I believe each province should have its own set of regulations because each province has their own interests. Although it would create less conflict between the provinces in Canada to create a universal set of regulations, I do not think that universal regulations would properly serve each province with their own needs. Canada's decision may make the US consider decriminalize marijuana, but since states have their own laws on marijuana, it will have little influence on the country as a whole.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Canada is making the right decision to decriminalize marijuana. It is a drain on taxpayer money to arrest, prosecute, and house criminals convicted of marijuana crime. In addition, there ways being developed to help manage cannabis dosages much like alcohol. Marijuana is nowhere close to as dangerous as other schedule I narcotics and now that it is being treated similarly to alcohol in Canada provides fairness for the people. I believe that certain universal regulations should be put in place in Canada, however, other regulations like where it can be sold, consumed, and if there are additional taxes collected by certain provinces should be decided by individual provinces. The decriminalization of marijuana in Canada could have positive effects on creating more relaxed laws in the U.S. but I doubt that they will happen until after the Trump Administration as Jeff Sessions has already expressed his distaste towards marijuana numerous times.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Canada made the right decision in decriminalizing marijuana because marijuana is one of the less harmful drugs and it is a waste of resources for a government to enforce laws on marijuana and treat the drug the same way as cocaine or meth. The provinces should create universal regulations in order to avoid conflicting laws and avoid legal issues in the future. I think that the provinces should be able to add laws on top of a universal regulation if they wish but there should be a system to avoid conflicting laws to be made or a system where conflicting laws can be resolved. Canada's decision may influence US laws as the American government can see what happens in Canada in the coming years and may allow states like California to expand on decriminalization and be guinea pigs in the US.
ReplyDeleteI wholeheartedly believe that Canada made the right decision when deciding to decriminalize cannabis. Cannabis will be used regardless of its legality, and in the long term this will grant the Canadian government control over the market, as well as associated tax revenues. Furthermore, Canada is also releasing small time nonviolent drug offenders arrested for possessing cannabis, so it's also a win for justice. Marijuana is relatively safe (especially considering other legal vices), and should be treated as such with legalization, therefore Canada is doing the right thing decriminalizing marijuana. I do not believe that universal Canadian policy is necessary, the provinces should be allowed to enact their own systems to regulate marijuana, so long as none of them unfairly restrict access to it because the different provinces may find more success with different policies, and should be allowed to regulate their local industries. I don't believe that US policy will be changed too much. Many liberal parts of the US have already decriminalized, and while other states could look to the results of Canada's policy to shape their policy, ultimately the choice lies with the people of the state, who probably won't be too affected by Canada on the issue.
ReplyDeleteI think that Canada made the right decision to decriminalize marijuana. Marijuana is by far the least harmful mainstream drug; it does not destroy the human body like heroin or meth. Also, marijuana would be everywhere regardless of whether or not it is legal, so Canada is smart by capitalizing on the economic potential of a legal marijuana market.
ReplyDelete