Introduction to Criminology and Criminal Justice

Running head: INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Introduction to Criminology and Criminal Justice
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INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
The Legalization of Marijuana in Canada
Canada is a country where recently marihuana or marijuana has been legalized for the
medical purposes under the access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulation Act, which has
been issued by Health Canada. The marijuana has collected by the cultivation of the hemp plant
of the genus Cannabis where the scenes grains and fiber production only used under a license by
the health Canada (Hajizadeh, 2016). The government has Canadian federal election 2015 has
started a campaign with the people who want to legalize the Cannabis for personal use but
majority of the government has voted against the personal consumption according to the
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act but it has been legalize for the medicinal purposes under
some licensed permission (Rehm, Crépault & Fischer, 2017). The new law also enacted the rules
for it provides punishment for the people who convicted of supplying cannabis to minors and
impairment while driving motorcycle. However, the official date has been published which is 1st
July 2018 from when the legalization of marijuana will be applicable in the all over the country.
The act has provided the rules which has power to determine the method of distribution and sale
of legal Cannabis use along with the excise tax while distributing the Cannabis. In the past
history of Canada, the Cannabis use is illegal due to various criminal charges against middle
class citizens about using the Cannabis as drugs but later The cannabis is distributing for the
medicinal purposes which has make the legalization of the use of marijuana (Hajizadeh, 2016).
Though it has the legalization in the country it has several effects in human body and it
must not used by the young people (Rehm, Crépault & Fischer, 2017). The marijuana is a form
of toxic which affect our neurons and regular use of such drugs can change the developing the
brains framework. It was not completely harmless and has negative effects in our body.
Therefore the Canadian Medical Association has set a limit where they have suggested that the

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INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
human brain continues to mature until is 25, therefore a person should have completed the age of
21 to use marijuana. Most of the cases the young person becomes attracted by such drugs. The
country people also have fear that legalization of marijuana can increases impaired driving from
using marijuana along with the alcohol (Lake & Kerr, 2017).
Marijuana is also known as pot, weed and grass, which are mainly, found from the plant
Cannabis sativa and it grows naturally in many countries. Marijuana is using for medicinal
purposes from thousands of years and it remains illegal to grow, use and causes in most of the
countries including Canada. However, in a recent report has found that in Canada the
populations, which aged 15 to 24 years, are reporting to use marijuana more in Canada where
males are mostly like to use the Cannabis rather than females (Rehm, Crépault & Fischer, 2017).
Therefore the current system in Canada has raises several issues of legalizing and the
criminalizing of marijuana. It has affected the political, economic growth. The decriminalization
of marijuana is still illegal to use and recognize as a criminal offence but when it will be
legalized that means the adults will have rights to use and sale marijuana like tobacco and
alcohol (Volkow, et al., 2014). Sometimes the illegal sales also took place. This process may
increases the crime by the youth of the country or they may face dangers for the possibility of
overdose risk of tragic intoxicated behavior and risk of addiction. It is important for the Canadian
government that they must be strict while providing license to the people who are selling and
using the marijuana for the medicinal purposes (Hajizadeh, 2016).
The legalization of marijuana in Canada has increased tax revenue, which has been a
great economy for Canada government. Therefore the government can collect a huge amount of
taxes of legalize drugs (Lake & Kerr, 2017). There is a high demand for marijuana due to the
legalization of Canada and in the free market price; the marijuana is estimated to be low without

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INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
taxation (Rehm, Crépault & Fischer, 2017). Therefore, the government can impose higher taxes
on these drugs for maintaining the price at a competitive level with other intoxicated products
like alcohol and tobacco (Volkow, et al., 2014). However, the Canadian government can collect
a huge amount of tax for the product but it also increases the black market of marijuana in
Canada rather than alcohol and tobacco. In a recent report, it has found that Canadian Imperial
Bank of Commerce world markets has estimated that it could create a 10 million dollar per year
in industry and the Canadian Government and collect 50% or more than $10 million as the drug
taxes for the legalization of marijuana. Therefore, it would help to generate some other job
opportunities for individuals who are connected with educational sessions and Health Promotion
initiative to promote safe use of the drugs. Therefore, the legalization of marijuana can lead to a
substantial savings in drug incarceration and enforcement cost in Canada (Rehm, Crépault &
Fischer, 2017).
According to the social impacts due to the high demand of marijuana in Canada can help
to expansion on the black market where the illegal drug dealers can sell the marijuana without
any accountability (Hajizadeh, 2016). When the legalization of marijuana has established in
Canada it helps to reduce the cost and the economical growth in the black market share. It has
related with the illegal drug dealers and other relative criminal activities. When the illegal drug
dealers’ sale and use in Canadian black market, it increases the criminal offences. Due to the use
of marijuana the social problem will be increases and the marijuana will effect as unsafe
products in the environment and the illegal distribution of such drug only being level for such
criminal activities. Therefore, for the youth in the Canada the illegal market of marijuana is
highly risk and dangerous issues (Lake & Kerr, 2017).

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INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
The use of marijuana has dangerous impacts in the human body. Regular use of such
toxicities can affect human brain but along with the bad effects. Marijuana is used for medicinal
purposes (Hajizadeh, 2016). It has various benefits as if the use of marijuana can lower the risk
in neuropathic pain, inflammatory bowel diseases, and helps to manage symptoms of
chemotherapy and treatment resident epilepsy in children. The Centre for Addiction and Mental
Health Organisation has recently published a report where they mentioned about the healthy
benefits of the use of marijuana along with the risks, which are decreasing the brain development
among youth. The progression to use of other illicit Drugs depression or anxiety, injury, risk of
death from motor vehicle collision, symptoms of chronic bronchitis, schizophrenia and addiction
problem (Rehm, Crépault & Fischer, 2017). The casual effects of regular use of marijuana can
become the reason of disorders, schizophrenia, lung cancer and traffic injuries. There are several
disabilities has also found due to the regular use of marijuana where the highest rated of risk in
the motor vehicle accidents which is most common side effects income order along with other
countries (Volkow, et al., 2014).
The legalization of marijuana can helpful and benefited for the government to collect
highest paid of taxes. It also helps to government to develop in the country. However, due to the
legalizati1on of such toxicities product also increases criminal activities in all over the country.
The illegal market of drugs has already increasing in Canada and after the legalization of
marijuana (Lake & Kerr, 2017); it increases the high rated criminal offence for the society.
Canada government should prepare some appropriate rules and policies to keep the drug out of
the hands of the minors. They must increase awareness and knowledge on harmful effects of the
drug and to prevent impair driving and collision between the motor and vehicles. the Canada is
not only the first country who attempts to in provision of marijuana but the Portugal, Uruguay

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INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
and United States have also realize the use of marijuana where they also applied several
provision policies and strategic models for the legalization of marijuana (Volkow, et al., 2014).
However, several States have legalized the use it helps Canada to found new laws and rules to
prevent such criminal offences and other harmful effects (Rehm, Crépault & Fischer, 2017).
However, the legalization of marijuana is one of the unique opportunities to know about the
effect of legalizing marijuana on the national scale (Lake & Kerr, 2017).

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INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Reference
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