Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Legalization Of Marijuana - The Need For A Vigorous Debate -UPDATED

I believe the sterotype is that as we get older, our views become more entrenched and conservative. In my own life, I have found the opposite to be true.

When I was young, I was certainly to the right of centre in my social views. I was a supporter of capital punishment, and felt severe sentencing acted as a deterrent to crime. As I got older and more educated, I learned to think more critically, and thereby progresssed in my views. While I am still opposed to the gutting of sentences through easy parole and the fact that most incarceration means only serving one-third of the sentence, an affront to the notion that justice must be seen to be done, I also feel that prison terms should be served by far fewer than currently occupy our detention facilities. I guess, to use the demonizing categorization of the Haper regime, I have become soft on some 'crime'.

One of those crimes is incarceration for drug possession. Thanks to Bill C-10, the Harper omnibus crime bill, there is a six-month mandatory minimum sentence for growing as few as six marijuana plants, something that strikes many as overkill. At a time when many jurisdictions, including the United States, are pursuing legal reforms as they realize the growing costs of the increasingly futile 'war on drugs,' Canada's postion seems both regressive and anachronistic.

In any event, a vigorous and informed debate is clearly needed on the issue of drug legalization. In pursuit of that goal, I offer the following:

Retired police captain Peter Christ makes some compelling arguments for the legalization of drugs. While I don't agree with the legalization of all drugs, the perspective of a former law enforcement offical is surely useful:



In light of Justin Trudeau's recent announcement that he favours legalization of majijuana, the following are additional resources that add meaningfully to the discussion:

The Star had an interesting piece on what legalization of marijuana likely means in states like Colorado and Washington, which recently held referenda on the issue.

They also ran an editorial evaluating Justin Trudeau's proposal, suggesting he needs to more clearly define how it would be implemented.

You can check out the Globe's take here and here. You may be surprised at what 'the newspaper of record' has to say.

As well, The National Post looks at both sides of the pot debate here.

Finally, in this morning's Star, Rosie DiManno offers her withering assessment both of Trudeau and his advocacy.

May there be much constructive debate on this controversial issue.

UPDATE: Here is an interesting video in which Doctor Sanjay Gupta apologizes for his past opposition to medical marijuana use:


10 comments:

  1. Nice to find out I'm not the only one whose views have evolved from right-wing to more progressive on social issues as I have aged.

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    1. I suspect that there are many more of us than people think, UU4077

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  2. I too have become more progressive the older I get.

    I found DiManno's column to be stupid and confused. She has a point about Trudeau's wavering stance but she presents one side without any facts. Except that heroin is cool and pot makes you stupid. What is DiManno smoking?

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    1. Agreed, Jim. It was hardly one of Rosie's better efforts.

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  3. Lorne, by legalizing drugs like marijuana will only hurt street drug dealers and drug cartels like the ones in Mexico. Alcohol can cause more harm to a person's health than marijuana.

    When you incarcerate people for minor offenses then prisons become universities for minor offender to convert them into hard-core criminals. Many sociological studies have shown that. Another factor involved is the resentment against society for putting them in jail and when they come out they strike back harder.

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    1. I think one of the more compelling arguments for legalization of marijuana, LeDaro, is the destructive effect it will have on the cartels. In Mexico, over 70,000 deaths are attributed to the cartels which, of course deal in other drugs such as cocaine as well. Historically, organized crime acquired much of its power in the United States during Prohibition; after it ended, the Mafia had the resources to move into so many others areas, and continue their pernicious influence to this day.

      i agree with your view about putting people into jail for minor offences. it makes no sense either economically nor socially.

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  4. Lorne, I should add that liquor companies have a very strong lobby who lobby against legalizing marijuana. It will hurt their business.

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    1. There is a bit of historical irony at work here, LeDaro, in that Canadian alcohol was smuggled into the U.S during their much lengthier Prohibition, which, as I mentioned previously, empowered organized crime. That same industry, as you point out, is now working to stop the legalization of pot, thereby prolonging the reign of organized crime in its almost exclusive provision of the product.

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  5. I think Paul Martin wanted to make it legal for an individual to grow up to three plants. Now I'm not saying I hang around with shady people but a fellow I know was in the trade and could grow a plant that rivaled the White House Christmas tree.

    While I'm not a user I strongly support decriminalization and, preferrably, outright legalization. War on pot appeals to those with authoritarian instincts but it doesn't work and only succeeds in bringing otherwise law-abiding citizens into the criminal justice system.

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    1. The push for decriminalizing pot goes back to the Trudeau père years, Mound. The Le Dain Commission recommendeded that cannabis for personal use and cultivation be legalized, but the report never went anywhere. I think Paul Martin's recommendation fell apart when his government was defeated, to be replaced, of course, by one that believes we all need to be protected from ourselves.

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