Political Science Position Paper: Decriminalizing Marijuana in Canada

This essay examines the social and public health impacts of decriminalizing marijuana in Canada. It begins by highlighting the prevalence of marijuana use in Canada and the growing political and media interest in decriminalization. The essay then discusses the differences between decriminalizatio...Read More

Running head: POLITICAL SCIENCE
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Name of the Student:
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Introduction
Notwithstanding almost few decades of prevention with around 45% of Canadians stating
to have consumed at certain point in their life, marijuana is considered as the most frequently
used prohibited material in Canada (Hajizadeh, 2016). According to reports by Hartman et al.
(2018) over 14% of Canadian aged 16 and above residents of British Columbia revealed to have
breathed in the drug at least once in the past year. However because of the futility of the recent
method of exclusion in Canada the concern regarding sanctioning and decriminalising marijuana
has involved major political as well as news media interest in currently (Hajizadeh, 2016). The
following report will argue on the social and public health impacts on Canadians with the
decriminalization of drugs like cannabis.
Discussion
Decriminalization of Marijuana according to Lake and Kerr (2017) indicate that the
individual uses of the substance is still an unlawful act resulting to a minor legal fine but at the
same time will not be considered as a criminal offence. However as per Cogswell and Harris
(2015), legalization of marijuana implies that marijuana would be legally accessible to the adults
of the country. Furthermore it is important to note that the public support towards
decriminalization has been eventually gathering media attention by exerting pressure on
legislations, rules and the government in order to modify the obsolete laws relating to drug usage
(Hartman et al., 2018). The issue of decriminalising such drugs has been signified by several new
Agencies since past few years. In addition to this as per the reports of Wilkinson et al. (2016)
with substantial public as well as media support there can be witnessed a majority of Liberals’
Election Campaign concerning on the subject of the decriminalising of cannabis.
Lake and Kerr (2017) at this juncture has claimed that the heightened wanting for

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cannabis in Canada has been consequential to the development of the illegal marketplace and
deposit the influence in the control of banned drug distributors to be the exclusive suppliers of
the product with no significant responsibility. Furthermore by regulating marijuana distribution
decriminalization could condense the thriving illegal market for the drug which is a result of an
outsized amount of illegal acts in Canada according to the charge of police accounted marijuana
crimes (Cogswell & Harris, 2015). Thus Hartman et al. (2018) state that decriminalization of this
drug would seek certain social issues related to the illegal business of marijuana distribution such
as insecure environment created by illicit delivery of the drug along with unconstructive
outcomes of criminal category for control of diminutive amounts of marijuana among young
adults (Pacula et al., 2014). The illegal market of marijuana is identified as a critical threat to the
welfare of Canadian children. According to report by United Nations children's funds teenage
population of Canada is identified as the most frequent user of unlawful marijuana among 29 of
the world's urbanized financial systems (Laporte et al., 2017).
Lake and Kerr (2017) are of the opinion that regardless of the therapeutic advantages of
marijuana usage in neuropathic pain regulating symptoms of chemotherapy inflammatory bowel
diseases along with treatment-resistant epilepsy in children this drug usage can also be related to
certain adverse health effects. As per the report by Centre For Addiction And Mental Health
(CAMH) daily uses of marijuana is highly related to critical welfare threats such as issues with
strong brain progress among youths, symptoms of chronic bronchitis, advancement towards use
of other illicit drugs, risk of fatality from motor vehicle collision along with schizophrenia or
addiction problem (Wilkinson et al., 2016). However Hajizadeh (2016) has stated marijuana
related mortality cases have been estimated to transpire because of severe causal effects of the
drug usage on motor vehicle accidents as well as lung cancer along with the number of morbidity

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cases related to marijuana usage in Canada. Wilkinson et al. (2016) have also witnessed an
increase in the marijuana linked healthcare utilisation because of intoxication, consumption of
edible marijuana and cyclic vomiting syndrome among children in Colorado. As a result
focusing on the unfavourable health outcomes related to legal marijuana in Canada, certain
approaches on marijuana regulation must emphasize on the prevention and harm decrease
initiatives (Cogswell & Harris, 2015).
Conclusion
Hence to conclude though decriminalization of drugs like marijuana in Canada enable the
administration to protect citizens’ taxation which is presently being spent on prevention
legislation. However it can result to certain public health issues such as increasing in drug usage
accidents and critical life risking health issues. Thus decriminalization of this drug could only be
effective if the Canadian government proficiently builds up suitable approaches in order to
sustain the drug in the control of minors and amplify the level of responsiveness on detrimental
effects of the drug.

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References
Cogswell, J. B., & Harris, S. W. (2015). Social work and medical students' perspectives on the
use of cannabis as a medical intervention (Doctoral dissertation).
Hajizadeh, M. (2016). Legalizing and regulating marijuana in Canada: review of potential
economic, social, and health impacts. International journal of health policy and
management, 5(8), 453.
Hartman, M., Lasry, D., Khan, A. U., Wu, H., Kassam, S., Wong, A., ... & Sit, D. (2018).
Canadian Federation of Medical Students Position Statement on Recreational Cannabis
Legalization.
Lake, S., & Kerr, T. (2017). The challenges of projecting the public health impacts of marijuana
legalization in Canada: comment on" Legalizing and regulating marijuana in Canada:
Review of potential economic, social, and health impacts". International journal of
health policy and management, 6(5), 285.
Laporte, C., Vaillant-Roussel, H., Pereira, B., Blanc, O., Eschalier, B., Kinouani, S., ... &
Vorilhon, P. (2017). Cannabis and young users—a brief intervention to reduce their
consumption (CANABIC): a cluster randomized controlled trial in primary care. The
Annals of Family Medicine, 15(2), 131-139.
Pacula, R. L., Kilmer, B., Wagenaar, A. C., Chaloupka, F. J., & Caulkins, J. P. (2014).
Developing public health regulations for marijuana: lessons from alcohol and
tobacco. American Journal of Public Health, 104(6), 1021-1028.
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.