Legalisation of Marijuana in Canada: Positive and Negative Aspects

Political Science

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Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
History of Legalisation related to marijuana in Canada...................................................................1
Positive and negative aspect of the use of Marijuana in country.....................................................2
Positive about marijuana legalisation in Canada.............................................................................2
Recommendations about the things to take care after the legalisation.............................................5
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................6
References.......................................................................................................................................7

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INTRODUCTION
Marijuana legalisation is not a taboo but a reality. Marijuana also known by the
name Cannabis is considered as a psychoactive drug obtained from the Cannabis plant
and is used for recreational and medical uses. This is illegal in most parts of the world
as it contains tetrahydrocannabinol which is highly psychoactive. It is used by
vaporising or smoking (Downer, Cooper and Faseruk, 2018, 2158-3625). Cannabis
effect both physical and mental state by giving high feelings, high mood, and change
in perception as well as enhances appetite. The effect of the Marijuana can be felt
within a minutes when taken in the form of smoke while it takes approx. half or an
hour to effect when eaten or cooked (Watson, and Erickson, 2018, 1-5). There are
various short and long terms effects of taking marijuana. Short term effects includes
dry mouth, short-term memory, feeling anxiety or paranoia, red eyes and impaired
motor skills. Long term impacts involve decreased mental ability, behavioural
problems in the children if the mothers take it at the time of pregnancy, addiction of
extreme level etc.
In spite of its ban in the international market, it was legalised in the Canada for
medicinal purposes since 2001. Recently the federal Cannabis Act came into existence
on 17 October, 2018 and made Canada only the second country to actually legalise
marijuana for the recreational purposes. Legalisation will allow the government to
collect taxes on legal production of marijuana. This report highlights the various
aspects of the legalisation of Marijuana. It also elaborates about the positive and
negative side of this legalisation.

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History of Legalisation related to marijuana in Canada
Cannabis was banned in the country from 1923 till 2001 when it was legalised
for taking regulated use of these as a medicine. This was made legalised under the
conditions stated in the Marihuana for Medical purposes Regulations, later superseded
by the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purpose Regulations instated by Health Canada
(Karbakhsh, Smith and Pike, 2018, 1-4). The grains, seed, and fibre production was
granted under licence by Health Canada. The liberal party of Canada made the
promise to legalise marijuana for the recreational purpose in the federal elections of
2015.
On October 17, 2018, the federal Cannabis Act came into existence legalising
the use of Cannabis for the recreational purposes. The new law has been enacted to
strengthen the punishments for the people who would be convicted of either supplying
marijuana to under age or impairments while driving a motor vehicle. This law was
passed by the House of Commons of Canada in the November 2017 under the BillC-
45, Cannabis Act. It passed second reading on March 22, 2018, in the Senate of
Canada. On June 18, 2018 bill was passed in the house.
Positive and negative aspect of the use of Marijuana in country
This essay will argue that Marijuana legalisation will have what kind of effect
on different aspects of the living in the society. After its legalisation in the country,
there are many debates going on in different parts of the world about the positive and
negative side of its use. Since after legalisation it will be sold as a major commodity in
the open market and hence it would easier for the people to have access to it. It would
have many health issues and would impact the health determinants of the country
(Schluttenhofer, 2018, 460-460).