Liberal Party of Canada

Canada has some big changes coming its way.

By July 2018, the Liberal Party of Canada intends to regulate and legalize marijuana across the country. In short, we want to fix Canada’s failing system of marijuana prohibition by enforcing new, and stricter laws that restrict access to the drug. This will keep it out of the hands of minors, and keep the profits out of the pockets of drug-distributing criminals.

How will we do this? Well, here are the highlights of the suite of bills introduced earlier this year:

- “Sales to be restricted to people age 18 and older, although provinces would have the jurisdiction to increase their own minimum age.
- Adults 18 and older would be allowed to publicly possess up to 30 grams of dried cannabis, or its equivalent in non-dried form.
- Sales by mail or courier through a federally licensed producer would be allowed in provinces that lack a regulated retail system.
- Adults aged 18 and older would be allowed to grow up to four cannabis plants for each residence, with plants not to exceed one metre in height.
- Adults aged 18 and older would also be allowed to produce legal cannabis products, such as food or drinks, for personal use at home.
- At first, sales will entail only fresh and dried cannabis, cannabis oils and seeds and plants for cultivation. Sales of edibles will come later, once regulations for production and sale can be developed.
- Possession, production and distribution outside the legal system would remain illegal, as would imports or exports without a federal permit. Such permits will cover only limited purposes, such as medical or scientific cannabis and industrial hemp.” _[1]

Here are a few reasons why we support that claim.

Cannabis-related crimes are putting a heavy burden on our justice system.
The Canadian police force attributes approximately $2 billion to $3 billion annually tackling cannabis-related crimes._[2] Criminalizing Canadians for the possession and consumption of marijuana and related product wastes too many resources towards non-violent offenses. Individuals also face the stigma of being placed in the criminal justice system for minor offenses, which negatively affect their progression in society.

Legalizing the sale of marijuana will boost the Canadian economy and decrease funding of organized crime.
According to a 2016 study conducted by Deloitte, the legal cannabis industry will generate between $12.7 billion to $22.6 billion yearly. This includes profits from sourcing, distribution, related products, tourism, and taxes. Government approved establishments will drive illegal distribution out of the market, reducing the amount of cash flow to organized crime in Canada._[3]

Regulating the sale of marijuana will keep it out of the hands of our youth.
Today, minors can purchase the substance from unauthorized dealers. We plan on regulating the sale of cannabis so that only individuals over the age of 18 can purchase it. New laws will be put in place to severely punish those to sell the drug to minors. Our children’s safety and development is a main priority, therefore appropriate measures will be put in place to keep the drug out of the hands of minors.

Marijuana has been proven to be an effective drug that suppresses the symptoms of epilepsy and other illnesses.
Meet Jeremy. When he was just six years old, Jeremy contracted a virus, resulting in Acute Viral Encephalitis. This caused Jeremy to experience seizures which led to brain damage. Pharmaceuticals were ineffective, but when his family gave Jeremy cannabis oil, his seizures were calmed._[4]

Cannabis not only exists for recreational purposes, but has been proven to alleviate the severe symptoms of conditions such as epilepsy. It is an alternative approach to pharmaceuticals that subside seizures. A 2015 study by Dr. Orrin Devinsky of the NYU Langone Comprehensive Epilepsy Center found that marijuana resulted in a 54% reduction of occurrences of seizures in 137 people suffering from epilepsy._[5] Legalizing marijuana will allow individuals to have better access to the drug in order to alternatively treat their ailments.

The Liberal Party of Canada truly believes that the legalization and regulation of cannabis is a step forward for Canadian society. To learn more, visit us at https://www.liberal.ca/realchange/marijuana/

References

Liberal Party of Canada

Liberal Party of Canada

Real Change

The Grass is Greener