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Cannabis legalization is riding a high tide of public and political support. Several states have already fully legalized, and dozens have allowed the use of cannabis for medical purposes. Several nations have legalized the use of cannabis in one form or another. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau aims to add Canada to that list.
Prime Minister Trudeau’s main focus was not on making it rain marijuana-infused tax dollars.
[Of] 29 different countries studied by the U.N., Canada was number one in terms of underage access to marijuana. And whatever you might think or studies seen about cannabis being less harmful than alcohol or even cigarettes, the fact is it is bad for the developing brain and we need to make sure that it’s harder for underage Canadians to access marijuana.
It is a simple truth. When something is illegal, it is invariably easier to get. Not surprisingly 80% of 12th-graders in the US said they could get marijuana easier than alcohol when it was still illegal to possess marijuana. Also, we have to accept that marijuana, like any intoxicant, is not inert. There are serious implications towards marijuana abuse at a young age. No, there isn’t a consensus yet. But no intoxicant exists in a vacuum.
Trudeau had another valid reason to legalize cannabis that effects us all.
There are billions upon billions of dollars flowing into the pockets of organized crime, street gangs and gun-runners, because of the illicit marijuana trade, and if we can get that out of the criminal elements and into a more regulated fashion we will reduce the amount of criminal activity that’s profiting from those, and that has offshoots into so many other criminal activities.
One of the biggest boons of legal weed in several US states has been taking literally billions of dollars out of the hands of Mexican cartels and putting into the hands of American taxpayers. According the US Border Patrol, trafficking of marijuana from Mexico is down by 32%, at least. That’s a lot less money and ability for the cartels and a lot more money for our schools, homeless, and infrastructure.
Trudeau’s tact is altruistic, which seems to be central to his character. There are still many hurdles to overcome. Hopefully Canada will legalize cannabis sooner rather than later.
(Via The Washington Post)
