Community editorial board: Over four years after legalizing cannabis, are we better off?
Cannabis

Community editorial board: Over four years after legalizing cannabis, are we better off?

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Legal cannabis products Legal cannabis products Photo by Bryan Passifiume /Toronto Sun

Is it just me, or are there a lot of pot stores in Cornwall?

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Every time I turn around, there seems to be another one opening. Stats have 1,000 new cannabis stores opening in Ontario this year— we have our fair share in the city along with the increase of pot usage.

Personally, I’m not very impressed with the legalization of marijuana in Canada.

It was one of the main points that got Justin Trudeau elected in 2015. If you don’t like Trudeau but you wanted the decriminalization of pot, you helped vote him in. Indeed, many of the younger voters came out in record numbers, some voting for the first time.

Trudeau made good on that election promise. Several years later, I can’t help but be saddened with the results.

Canada became the first industrial country to regulate pot use for nonmedical purposes, abolishing the prohibition of cannabis. Our government took on a progressive approach to health and safety and regulating the marijuana industry. The Cannabis Act, the law legalizing cannabis, came into effect in October 2018.

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People in Canada over the age of 18 can now possess 30 grams of cannabis in dried or non-dried forms, sharing it with others legally. People can also purchase cannabis products online. Home-grown grow-ops can have four plants per residence— and these plants are big!

There are lots of variations of baked marijuana as record numbers of Canadians turn marijuana into legal, organic baked goods.

Edibles have also become popular. Often packaged in cute gummy form.

It makes me incredulous Canadians are OK with marijuana that appeals to those under the age of 18. Online.

Canada boasts it has strict restrictions for those under the age of 18, and vendors are prohibited from selling cannabis to minors. Penalties of 14 years in jail await those selling or giving it to minors. Legislation states there should be no packaging or labelling of cannabis that appeals to youth. I am sure lawmakers are not aware of those cute gummies I have personally seen being distributed. Maybe the definition of cute is subjective?

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Our law states violators can be fined up to $5 million or three years in jail.

How is this industry regulated? The law states federal, provincial, and territorial governments share the responsibility of regulating marijuana usage as well as maintaining, implementing, and enforcing systems.

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Government promised $46 million over 5 years to inform Canadians about pot usage. That’s your tax money spent on educating the public on cannabis use from 2017 until this year.

Supporters of legalization talk about how 80 per cent of possession offences tying up the court system are now eliminated, making room for other more important issues.

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The rise of a multi-billion-dollar industry that creates jobs and tax revenue is not lost on the Trudeau government and those benefiting from the legalization of pot. It’s no shock government, businesses, and individuals smart enough to jump on the initial emergence of the industry made lots of money.

Stats Canada projected retail sales of $2.6 billion in 2020, a 120 per cent increase from 2019. What effect has that had on Canadian culture?

Cannabis use is up. No kidding. More Canadians are getting higher than ever with the legalization of cannabis. Is that a good or bad thing?

One of the areas of concern to cannabis usage is the easing of restrictions. People are using all day long, which can increase mental health issues. Cannabis-related schizophrenia and psychosis are real issues as smoking cannabis rises.

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As Canadians emerged from COVID-19, many were using pot to manage issues like depression and anxiety. Has the Canadian government allocated billions to combat the mental health jump and threat connected with COVID-19, mental health, and increased pot usage?

In Ontario and Quebec, pot-impaired driving has increased, but the new laws and enforcement of cannabis abuse make responses sluggish. Stay tuned for the emerging statistics of people driving under the influence.

Effects of cannabis use include sleepiness, fatigue, and impairment of memory and concentration abilities. Maybe billions should have been spent to anticipate the issue of driving under the influence, because it is happening.

Youth visits to emergency departments are also up. Maybe no one gave notice to minors they are not allowed to smoke up.

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Cannabis is addictive. It hurts your lungs and causes many of the same harmful effects found in tobacco usage. I hope our medical system is up for the influx of older Canadians who are at risk of developing issues like COPD in the future. Loosen restrictions now, pay into our burdened health-care system later. I hope the Canadian government is ready to put more money into that.

Has the legalization made a difference to organized crime selling pot? Some consumers will always prefer the cheaper, illegal means of procuring cannabis.

The best cannabis usage impacts those with serious medical issues who get cannabis and all its forms easier. Marijuana is a good medicinal product for serious pain management.

Almost daily I pass by pot users on the street, scenting the sweet smoke of cannabis. Sometimes I get to smell it in a nearby backyard.

I shake my head because cannabis is here to stay in Canada. There are too many people making money.

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