The federal government needs to clear the air on its plans to legalize marijuana.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s plans to legalize marijuana are still hazy after a government task force released its report on making cannabis legal this month. Recommendations in the report include setting a national minimum age of 18, but allowing provinces to harmonize it with the minimum age to purchase alcohol, and putting marijuana under restrictions similar to the Tobacco Act, including being packaged with company names, THC levels and warnings.
The federal government needs to be abundantly clear on when marijuana use would not be appropriate, particularly around age, as well as providing direction to police and municipalities.
There need to be strict rules to prevent marijuana from falling in the hands of young people.
According to a report by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, adolescents are at particular risk from marijuana. A 2015 report by the centre states early and frequent use increases the risk of short-term cognitive impairment, poor school performance and psychotic symptoms and disorders.
There are medical questions about 18 being too young to use marijuana, but if an 18-year-old has the right to vote, drink and serve his or her country they should have the legal right to use marijuana responsibly if it is legalized.
Tax revenues from cannabis sales should be used to educate young people about marijuana and other drugs.
Guidance must also be given in regards to distribution.
Municipalities deserve time to change land use bylaws to outline where marijuana sales will be allowed, while police need time to be ready to deal with and detect drivers who may be impaired by marijuana, as well as adopt technology to screen drivers for drug use.
