Can we put the words ‘illegal’ and ‘marijuana’ together and still be making a relevant statement in Canada?
Marijuana is going to be legal as a recreation drug. The federal government has committed itself to legalization. The provincial government has stepped forward with a plan for legal marijuana which included dispensaries as a component. They even went so far as to include early license application for dispensaries. Marijuana will be sold, consumed by people and I do not believe there is anything that will stop that from happening. This means the political movement to legalize marijuana is no longer of significant relevance. Operating dispensaries as a political statement is no longer required. So, now what?
We are all waiting for the paperwork to get done. Our local police detachments, our local governments, business associations, community leaders, the public, we are all in the same boat. We are all milling about, waiting for our government to open the doors and show us what they have on the table for each of us. Now, more than ever before, the marijuana issue is smothered in grey area. I personally dislike the uncertainty. No one really knows what to do or how to do it. No one is sure what action to take, especially when definitive instructions for all of us will be coming soon.
There is a publicly recognized marijuana distribution industry. I am not going to argue right, wrong, legal, illegal, only that it exists and has for a considerable period of time. All indications are that it will continue to exist in a similar form in a formalized, regulated structure. It is effective, widely accepted, causes no harm and has not been a cause for public safety concerns. It is self-regulated and very professional. In Canada we already have a basic knowledge of what is expected of us and what is not acceptable, without our government having to tell us. There will be more detailed official regulations forth coming soon. The existing system works and will continue to exist in some type of a legal framework. It is not broken, so, to tear it down, only to rebuild it in a few months would be wasteful.
Arguing amongst ourselves, or with local officials, about marijuana issues is a non-productive use of time. The entire marijuana matter is in the hands of our provincial and federal representatives. They are the ones that will vote on the laws to cover marijuana use and the distribution industry. If you feel strongly about some part of the marijuana issue, you should put it in writing and send it to your local MP and MLA, they are the ones that will be formulating the new laws. Now is the time, as an individual, a special interest group, a civic government, whatever you are, to let it be known what you expect from the upcoming legalization of marijuana. Time, money or resources regarding the marijuana issue would be best utilized pressuring our MP’s and MLA’s to deal with our concerns or desires. They are going to make the laws with or without our input.
We elected a group people who promised to have this legalization thing done a couple of years ago. I am patient, as most Canadians seem to be, but to have people incur consequences due to marijuana matters that were to be resolved by now, has a certain air of inappropriateness. I understand it is a complicated issue and an onerous burden, I do not envy them, but it is their job. We hired a group of people to do a job, I see no reason why we should continue to incur hardship over marijuana related issues because the people we hired are way behind schedule. It is not our fault, we are co-operating.
The legalization of marijuana is the biggest social and political event in Canada since the patriation of our constitution 45 years ago. It is not something to be taken lightly. Once it is done, Canada will be the only country in the world, where the possession and sale of marijuana to the general public is legal. Then we, the people, will be burdened with a great responsibility. We have to show the rest of the world that they can legalize marijuana without their nation spiraling into a poverty stricken, drug-addicted cesspool of third world conditions. I am not worried, we can do it, we are Canadian.
Jukka Laurio
Penticton
