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| You are here: Home > Features > Decriminalization
of Marijuana in Canada |
Perceptions of Marijuana Use in Canada
The effects and perceptions of marijuana
use.
The prominent, active chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol
or THC. THC is the intoxicating component in marijuana, as well
as hashish.
Supporters and opponents of the proposed legislation argue about
the health effects associated with using marijuana.
Negative Effects
There are a number of proven and contentious negative effects associated
with using marijuana:
- impairing physical coordination;
- causing respiratory damage;
- possible complications for pregnancy and post-natal development;
- impairment of memory and cognition;
- inducement of various psychiatric effects;
- detrimental effects for hormone production and the immune
system; and,
- as some argue, marijuana creates dependence or withdrawal
symptoms.
Therapeutic Uses, Benign Effects
There are also a number of useful or benign effects of using marijuana,
including therapeutic or medicinal uses:
- marijuana is considered an anti-emetic (prevents or arrests
vomiting);
- it is an appetite stimulant, especially used for treatment
of AIDS wasting (rapid loss of body mass);
- it is used to prevent spasmodic episodes, and is an anti-convulsant;
- as an analgesic, it relieves pain;
- it is a sedative (helps people to sleep) and a relaxant;
- may be useful in treating glaucoma (eye disease);
- when compared to the effects of alcohol, there is little
or no violence associated with marijuana use; and,
- there have been few or no deaths associated directly with
marijuana use.
The Argument to Decriminalize
Proponents of the decriminalization of marijuana,
including the Marijuana
Party of Canada, advocate for the outright legalization of
marijuana possession. This position is still a long way from
becoming reality, but there are supporters across the country.
The most obvious argument to decriminalize possession of the drug
is that it will save time and money for Canadian courts. Many
argue that current penalties are excessively harsh and that too
much money is spent on policing.
The courts are backlogged with possession cases; according to Liberal
MP Keith
Martin, the courts will save $150 million per year if marijuana
possession is decriminalized. Most of those convicted of the
possession of marijuana do not go to jail, but do receive a criminal
record. A criminal record is a burden, even for minor offences.
It creates employment difficulties and problems with international
travel. As of November 2004, the Canadian
Addiction Survey reports that 14 percent of Canadians smoked
marijuana over the past year. Many argue that criminalizing such
a widely accepted practice is a mistake. To this end, the Canadian
Association of Chiefs of Police supports the decriminalization
of marijuana possession; the Association believes time and resources
can better be devoted elsewhere.
Advocates for decriminalization argue that funds spent on policing
marijuana-related infractions would be better spent on public
health and education programs, especially dealing with addiction. Canadian
Medical Association says the decriminalization of the possession
of small amounts of marijuana should be, "tied to a national
drug strategy that promotes awareness and prevention, and provides
for comprehensive treatment.”
What Critics Say about Marijuana Use
Those opposed to the decriminalization of pot include the US government,
particularly the US Drug Enforcement
Administration, Mothers Against
Drunk Driving, and the Canadian
Professional Police Association.
These critics argue that legalizing marijuana
will promote drug use and that marijuana is a “gateway
drug.” The gateway drug logic argues that using marijuana
leads to the use of harder drugs. Moreover, US drug enforcement
officers argue that relaxing Canadian laws will increase the
flow of marijuana across the shared Canada-US border, potentially
making efforts to secure the border even more difficult. In this
regard, views of US officials do create concerns on the part
of Canadian lawmakers vis-à-vis the vast and lucrative
flow of legitimate goods and services across the border that
takes place each day between the two neighbouring countries.
Conservative MP Vic
Toews is concerned the proposed legislation will jeopardize
the $1 billion dollar per day Canada-US trading relationship.
His opposition was reported in the Washington
Post: "we know that the Americans are very opposed
to this bill," he told reporters in the lobby outside
the House of Commons. "How does this government guarantee
us that there won't be retaliatory action by the Americans?"
In the summer of 2002, the US “drug czar” or head of
the US Drug Enforcement Administration,
John Walters was in Quebec City speaking at a meeting of the
College on Problems of Drug Dependence. Walters reported that
marijuana is the most heavily abused drug in the United States
and that addiction rates have risen sharply in recent years.
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