Marijuana Legalization in Canada - Background, What's Legalized, Where to Use, Opinions vs Facts

The bill passed by the Senate legalizes recreational marijuana in Canada, making it the second nation in the world and the first G7 nation to do so. The use of marijuana will now be regulated to protect youth and keep profits out of organized crime. Federally licensed products will only be sold, and marijuana will be sold in places where alcohol or tobacco is not sold. Doctors are concerned about the negative impacts of marijuana such as mental illness, addiction, and long-lasting impact on the immature brain of kids and youths.

Marijuana Legalization
in Canada

A Background Information
 The new bill passed by the
Senate will legalise the use of
recreational marijuana in
Canada
 This will make Canada to be
only the second nation in the
world
 Will also become the first G7
nation legalising the
nationwide marijuana market
(CNN, 2018)

Continued..
 Neighbouring nation, the U.S., now allow the use of recreational
marijuana in its nine states
 Columbia district is the other name in this regard
 Notably, Uruguay was the first nation to legalise the use in 2013
(CNN, 2018)

Continued…
 According to the Senate, it had become quite easier for the kids to
get the marijuana
 And also for criminals to utilise it for their unjustified purpose
 The use of marijuana will now be regulated
 Youth will be protected from the risk of marijuana
 Profits will now be kept out of the organised crime
(CNN, 2018)

What or what not would be legalised
 Once the bill is implemented, 30 grams of legal marijuana can be carried in public
 As much as four plants could now be cultivated in households allowing the production of edibles
not to be sold to the market
 However, consumers can only buy the marijuana from shops those that are registered for selling
and are regulated as well
(CNN, 2018)

Continued..
 Federally licensed products will only be sold
 Marijuana will be sold in places where alcohol or
tobacco is not sold
 The minimum age for the use could be modified
to protect kids from using the marijuana
(CNN, 2018)

Continued…
 As a result of the
legalization, Canadian
companies such as Aphria
Inc., Canopy Growth Corp.
and Aurora Cannabis Inc.
will be centre attraction for
investors
 However, availability of
marijuana will vary and
depend on the government
(CNN, 2018)

Where to use
 Private residences excluding
retirement homes and long-
term care
 A lot of outdoor sites such as
parks, sidewalks etc.
 Guest rooms in hotels, inns
and motels
 The legalised residential
boats and vehicles
 In testing facilities
(Ontario.ca, 2018)

Where not to use
 Indoor common areas like apartment buildings, university/college
residences etc.
 Non-designated guest rooms such as in inns, hotels and motels
 At around schools
 In hospitals and other care facilities
 While driving
(Ontario.ca, 2018)

Opinions versus facts
 Good decisions require a solid evidence of knowledge on the benefits
and harms of using marijuana
 Important information about marijuana is still partially known
(Montreal Gazette, 2018)
 Therefore, the decision to legalise should be delayed until there are
sufficient information on the fact

Continued..
 According to the organization like the Canadian Nurses Association, the legalisation is a
good move; however, must be monitored medically to see the impacts of consumption
 Marijuana can present challenge to the medical industry
 Medical industry is still not equipped with adequate resources needed to research the
impact of the drug (Wilkinson et al., 2016)

Continued…
 Doctors in Canada are worried of impacts that the consumption of
marijuana would produce
 According to a few doctors, there are no solid evidence for whether
marijuana helps to cure chronic diseases
 Doctors are rather concerned about a few negative impacts of
marijuana such as mental illness, addiction, long-lasting impact on
the immature brain of kids & youths, lung cancer etc.
(Choo et al., 2014)

Conclusion
 The legalization of marijuana in Canada is to a few an encouraging
move while for many others a very uncalculated approach
 Doctors and medical institution in Canada are not denying the fact
that marijuana can help to treat chronic diseases; however, they have
not so far found any solid evidence for this
 Doctors believe that there are needs to enhance the research
capability of medical institution to allow them identify the potential
impact of marijuana on the health of kids, youths and others.

References
 Choo, E. K., Benz, M., Zaller, N., Warren, O., Rising, K. L., & McConnell, K. J.
(2014). The impact of state medical marijuana legislation on adolescent
marijuana use. Journal of Adolescent Health, 55(2), 160-166.
 CNN. (2018). Canada becomes second nation in the world to legalize
marijuana. Retrieved from https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/20/health/canada-
legalizes-marijuana/index.html
 Montreal Gazette. (2018). Opinion: Legalizing marijuana will be beneficial to
society. Retrieved from https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/opinion-legalizing-
marijuana-will-be-beneficial-to-society
 Ontario.ca. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.ontario.ca/page/cannabis-
legalization
 Wilkinson, S. T., Yarnell, S., Radhakrishnan, R., Ball, S. A., & D'Souza, D. C.
(2016). Marijuana legalization: impact on physicians and public health. Annual
review of medicine, 67, 453-466.