Canada is currently on the verge of legalizing recreational marijuana. This makes Canada the second nation in the world, after Uruguay see and the first of the G7 Nations to legalize marijuana use as a recreational drug nationwide.
According to information on the Government of Canada's Department of Justice's website the Cannabis Act is a strict legal framework for controlling the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis across Canada with the aim of keeping the drug out of the hands of youths, keeping profit out of the hands of criminals, protecting public health and ensuring safety by allowing adults access to safe, legal cannabis.
The website also contains information with regards to the legalization, regulation, possession limits, age restriction, criminal penalties etc., of cannabis products in Canada.
While recreational use of marijuana remains illegal or decriminalized in other countries (ie apart from Uruguay and Canada (from October 17, 2018)), medical marijuana is legalized in countries like Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Denmark, Israel, Italy, Luxemborg, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay, Zambia, Zimbabwe etc see.
Medical marijuana refers to the use of cannabis or marijuana, including constituents of cannabis, THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and other cannabinoids, as a physician-recommended form of medicine or herbal therapy. Medical marijuana is used for treatment of anorexia, cancer, glaucoma, arthritis, chronic pain, spasticity etc. whereas recreational marijuana is used without medical justification for its psychoactive effects.
From October 17, 2018, recreational marijuana will be legal in Canada, until then, current laws remain in force and should be obeyed. see.
Over the years, there have been several debates on the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. Below are some of the points for and against the motion see.
FOR (Why it should be legalized):
- Individual freedom: every individual has the right to decide whether to take it or not. The government should not decide for her citizens.
- Less harmful than legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco and also has medicinal benefits, so why still illegalize it?
- When legalized, its trade would be taken out of the hands of criminal gangs hence, it would be properly regulated to ensure quality and safety just like any other product.
- Increases tax revenue for the country through taxation of traders and dealers.
AGAINST (Why it should not be legalized):
- Harmful effects on various body organs (hearts, lungs, brains) despites its medical benefits.
- Addiction rate will increase since legalizing it means more people will use it
- Restrictions and regulation may not be successful so drug gangs will get richer and make more profits
- Users will experiment worse drugs leading to more serious substance abuse.
With this current trend and other countries advocating for recreational marijuana legalization, what will be the impact on medical marijuana supply? Will marijuana one day become completely legalized worldwide? What do you think? Should recreational marijuana be legalized or should it not be?