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Decriminalization: The Legal Battle over Pot |
Marijuana Quick Facts
Marijuana Use and Production
- Cannabis is the most commonly used drug in Canada.
- 23.1% of Canadians reported using cannabis in there lifetime, with
7.4% using on a past-year basis (1994 statistics).
- Drug use is highest in British Columbia and lowest in Newfoundland
(1994 statistics).
- Canada produces about 800 tons of illicit cannabis each year. About
60% is exported to the United States.
Marijuana and the Law
- Over 90% of Canadians support decriminalizing marijuana for medicinal
purposes.
- As of December 2002, Health Canada has issued 477 authorizations
to possess cannabis for medical purposes, 313 personal production licences,
and 23 designated person licences.
- In 1997 there were 66,500 drug offences, with possession of cannabis
accounting for almost half of those offences.
- The Canadian government spends more than $500 million annually enforcing
drug laws.
Marijuana Laws in Other Countries
| Country |
Trafficking of Marijuana |
Medical Use of Marijuana |
Possession of Marijuana |
| Strong Laws |
|
|
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| Sweden |
Illegal |
Illegal |
Illegal |
| United States |
Illegal |
Legal* |
Illegal |
| England |
Illegal |
Illegal |
Illegal** |
| |
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| Moderate Laws |
|
|
|
| Canada |
Illegal |
Legal |
Illegal** |
| Australia |
Illegal |
Legal |
Decriminalized* |
| Germany |
Illegal |
NA |
Non-Prosecuted |
| Switzerland |
Illegal |
NA |
Non-Prosecuted** |
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| Tolerant Laws |
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| Netherlands |
Illegal |
Legal |
Legal |
| Spain |
Illegal |
Legal |
Legal |
| Italy |
Illegal |
Legal |
Legal |
* Only in some state jurisdictions.
** Currently under review by government and may be liberalized.
Marijuana and Health
- Long-term marijuana smoking is associated with injury to the trachea
and major bronchi. Heavy, habitual consumption has been linked with
bronchitis.
- Although a link between marijuana smoking and cancer has not been
firmly established, there are case reports of cancers of the aerodigestive
tract in young adults with a history of cannabis use.
- Cannabis use by pregnant women may affect the fetus. Maternal cannabis
use has been linked to a shortened gestation period and low-birth-weight
infants. The longer-term, post-natal consequences of maternal cannabis
use appear to be subtle.
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