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Survey about use of cannabis before the legalization 

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Survey about use of cannabis before the legalization 

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This survey on the StatCan website was generated in the first quarter of 2018 and received statistics about the use of marijuana. This website/wiki tool is helpful for the government in deciding whether or not to legalize cannabis because it states the stats on many important factors to do with cannabis. For example the amount of people who drive only 2 hours after consuming cannabis.

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Nationally, about 4.2 million or 14% of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported some use of cannabis products for medical or non-medical use in the past three months. More than half (56%) of the users indicated that they used some form of cannabis "daily" or "weekly."

The Government of Canada has tabled legislation to legalize, regulate and restrict access to cannabis for non-medical purposes. In order to monitor cannabis consumption before and after the impending legislative change, Statistics Canada has launched the National Cannabis Survey which will be collected quarterly throughout 2018.

Canadians were asked if they thought they would change their behaviour once cannabis is legalized for non-medical use. Regardless of use, over three-quarters (79%) said that they would not be more likely to try or to increase their cannabis consumption.

Of the Canadians who did not use cannabis in the past three months, 6% said they would likely try cannabis or increase their consumption. In turn, about a quarter (24%) of current cannabis users said they would likely increase their cannabis consumption after legalization.

More than one in four Canadians aged 25 to 34 report some use in the past three months

Nationally, 14% of Canadians aged 15 and older reported having used some form of cannabis in the past three months. While provincial prevalence of cannabis use in the past three months ranged from 10% in Quebec to 20% in Nova Scotia, none of the provincial variations are statistically different from the national average.

Among those who used cannabis in the past three months, almost 40% used it daily, while 30% reported having used it only "once or twice." The remaining group were either "weekly" (17%) or "monthly" (14%) consumers.

Prevalence of use generally decreased with age. Among individuals aged 15 to 44, prevalence was over 22%, compared with 7% for those aged 45 years and older. Cannabis use over the past three months was 16% among those who identified as males and 12% among those who identified as females.

Cannabis consumers were also asked which types of products they used in the past three months. The most commonly used product was dried flowers (78%), followed by edibles (28%) and hashish (11%).

One in three cannabis users obtain supply from family or friends

Cannabis users tend to obtain their cannabis products from someone they know. Multiple responses were permitted and 31% reported obtaining the cannabis they used from a family member or friend, while 22% reported sharing among a group of friends. One in five reported obtaining their cannabis from either a dealer (19%), storefront (19%) or acquaintance (20%). One in seven (14%) reported obtaining the cannabis they consumed through an online licensed producer, while 9% of cannabis users grew the product themselves or had someone else grow it for them.

There can be more than one source from which cannabis product is obtained. However, 72% of the cannabis consumers reported having obtained their product from a single source.

When asked if their purchasing behaviours might change with the legalization of cannabis, half of the consumers said they would change their source of supply.

Drivers who use cannabis daily or weekly are more likely to drive within two hours of using cannabis

Canadians who used cannabis in the past three months were also asked if they had consumed cannabis within two hours of driving. Among the cannabis users with a valid driver's licence, 14% said they had driven within two hours of use. This proportion increased to 23% for drivers who were daily or weekly consumers of cannabis.

Over one-third of cannabis users spent more than $100 on cannabis in the past three months

When asked how much they spent on cannabis over the past three months, one-third of cannabis consumers reported that they did not spend anything on the product they consumed. This figure corresponds with the fact that almost one-third of consumers reported they obtained their cannabis from friends or family. Almost one in four cannabis users reported spending more than $250 over the past three months.

Products

The infographic " National Cannabis Survey, quarter 1, 2018," which is part of Statistics Canada - Infographics ( 11-627-M), is now available.

Contact information

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@canada.ca).

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National Cannabis Survey, first quarter 2018

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Nationally, about 4.2 million or 14% of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported some use of cannabis products for medical or non-medical use in the past three months. More than half (56%) of the users indicated that they used some form of cannabis

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Justin Trudeau announcing cannabis being legal in Canada 

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Justin Trudeau announcing cannabis being legal in Canada 

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Justin Trudeau announced on Twitter, cannabis’s legalization in Canada on October 17, 2018. There were over 10,000 retweets and 29,000 likes on the post. Also there were many replies from Canadians expressing how they felt about the new laws and from Non- Canadians who were expressing their desire for a Prime Minister like Justin Trudeau. The feedback varies and is interesting to see many different opinions.

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Profits out of the hands of criminals. Protection for our kids. Today #cannabis is legalized and regulated across Canada. pic.twitter.com/0ZxtohOHG0
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 17, 2018

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Canadians perspective on the new legalization

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Canadians perspective on the new legalization

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This video from YouTube demonstrates Canadians determining how they feel about the new law being put into place. In the video you see many Interviews from a variety of Canadian citizens as well as from public figures such as the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. You also get an inside perspective from Canadians who are willing to share their opinions on the new law.  Being that there is a comment section to the video, it makes for a great discussion among fellow Canadians who share the same beliefs.

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New rules attached to buying, using, possessing and growing cannabis

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New rules attached to buying, using, possessing and growing cannabis

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The National Post has an article/blog about the rules and regulations attached to the new law. The video explains how some of the regulations are differing depending on province, and how although the federal government has certain rules in place you have to be careful when dealing with provincial laws as well. There is an informative video to explain as well as written copy previewing each step to make for easy retention of information for the reader.

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OTTAWA - Though it's now legal to smoke cannabis for fun in Canada, that doesn't mean it's all a hazy high from here on out for the federal government. Since the Liberals introduced their landmark pot legalization bill in April 2017, lawyers and constitutional experts have pointed to several parts of the new marijuana rules that could still cause legal headaches.

From home cultivation to roadside testing to advertising, battles are already brewing over legal weed. Here are six pot law pitfalls that are most likely to end up in court.
Impaired driving
Canada's new impaired-driving law has been a favourite punching bag for lawyers since it was tabled last year. The new rules, which set out a legal limit for the level of THC in a driver's blood, allow police officers to test saliva using roadside screening devices and to collect blood samples.

However, there's not a clear link between the level of THC in the blood and the degree of impairment, as there is with alcohol, and lawyers have warned the new rules will likely face a constitutional challenge.

In fact, CBC News reported last week that Chuck Rifici, the Liberal party's former treasurer and current CEO of a private equity firm that invests in the cannabis industry, is putting up $25,000 of his own money to fund a legal challenge of the new impaired-driving law. "I'm all for drawing a line if there is a line to be found, of where the blood level equals impairment. And I don't think it's there," Rifici, the co-founder of cannabis giant Canopy Growth, told the CBC.
Home cultivation bans
Quebec and Manitoba have banned the home cultivation of marijuana, despite the fact that the federal law allows households to grow up to four plants. Former Quebec premier Philippe Couillard had promised to defend the province's ban in court, arguing the rules fall under provincial jurisdiction.

His successor, premier-designate François Legault, has also promised to raise the legal age to 21, while all other jurisdictions have chosen a legal age of 18 or 19. Some lawyers have suggested a possible challenge on the basis of age discrimination.

But cannabis lawyer Trina Fraser said there's an important difference between a province banning home cultivation and increasing the minimum age. When it comes to age, she said, "the federal government has basically said we don't have a problem with you taking a more restrictive approach." In contrast, Ottawa has essentially said the provinces cannot ban home grow, Fraser said, so that question is more likely to end up in court.
Promotion
Basically, cannabis promotion cannot include any images of people, and cannot connect weed to glamorous or exciting lifestyles, or appeal to children.

This week, the New Brunswick government's pot sales website made waves for providing cheerful, step-by-step instructions for how to roll a joint. But Maclean's pointed out that the website might violate Ottawa's rules by using images of smiling young people and describing pot as a good accessory for social occasions including "girls' night out."

Health Canada has said it's looking into the issue, while Cannabis NB told the Post it will "modify the content accordingly if required."

But lawyer Sara Zborovski said she expects cannabis companies will push back. As it stands, she said, it's unclear what it means to promote a certain lifestyle. "What if (a cannabis logo) goes on a yoga mat?" she said. "Is that where the line gets crossed?"
Workplace rules
Employers are developing policies to govern cannabis use in the workplace, but some have made headlines for being quite restrictive. The RCMP, for instance, has announced that officers are not allowed to consume marijuana in the 28 days before starting a shift, while the Calgary police force has banned it entirely. "The 28 days is still mind-boggling to me," Fraser said. "I believe that will be challenged."
First Nations jurisdiction
Some First Nations say they plan to set up retail stores on reserves despite not having provincial permits to do so, claiming their right to self-government. Ross Rebagliati, a former Olympic snowboarder, has teamed up with the Sipekne'katik First Nation in Nova Scotia to grow and sell cannabis, despite the fact that the province controls weed sales. He argues that First Nation lands fall under federal jurisdiction.

CBC News also reported this week that the owner of a dispensary in the Mohawk community of Tyendinaga, Ont., is planning a constitutional challenge after he was charged with trafficking last year. Seth LeFort argues his people have an "inherent right... to make medicine."
Landlord and condo board restrictions
Fraser said she's also expecting challenges of landlords and condo boards that ban weed cultivation and consumption, especially from medical marijuana users. "Some are just imposing blanket prohibitions," she said, which could be a form of discrimination on the basis of disability.
* Email: mforrest@postmedia.com | Twitter: MauraForrest

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Here are six parts of Canada's new cannabis rules that could end up in court

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OTTAWA - Though it's now legal to smoke cannabis for fun in Canada, that doesn't mean it's all a hazy high from here on out for the federal government. Since the Liberals introduced their landmark pot legalization bill in April 2017, lawyers and constitutional experts have pointed to several parts of the new marijuana rules that could still cause legal headaches.

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Law enforcement dealing with legalization of cannabis

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Law enforcement dealing with legalization of cannabis

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Police officers and law enforcement in general have been dealing with drug related crimes for years, and although the legalization of weed is not going to make their job easier there are new techniques and training that has been implemented in order to keep Canadians very safe. This article from CBC news focuses on the Vancouver police chief and his thoughts on how to enforce the new rules around the legalization.

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The president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police is assuring the public that police departments across the country are prepared for Wednesday, when recreational marijuana becomes legal.

"'I'm here to tell Canadians that police are ready," said Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer at a news conference.

Palmer said enforcing new laws around legal weed will be "a work in progress." However, he reminded people that police have been dealing with drug-impaired driving for decades.
Vancouver's police chief comments on readiness for legal pot:
"Police may see an increase in drug-impaired driving once cannabis is legalized, but we have well established techniques to detect impairment that have successfully passed the courts in Canada for many years now."

Currently 13,000 Canadian police officers have training in standard field sobriety testing. That number is expected to rise to 20,000 in the next few years.

Palmer also confirmed that 833 Canadian police officers have received further specialized training as drug-recognition experts and said there is a goal of training 500 more.

The CAPC recommended earlier that that 2,000 officers receive drug recognition training to meet the federal government's promise of cracking down on drug-impaired driving.

Legislation to legalize recreational cannabis was passed by the House of Commons in November of 2017 and approved by the Senate in June.

The new laws allow adults 18 and over to possess up to 30 grams of legal marijuana and to grow up to four plants for personal use.

Growers and suppliers are required to be federally licensed. Retailers will have to abide by provincial and municipal laws, which could vary widely across the country.

Palmer said organized crime has historically been heavily involved in the illegal marijuana trade but that legalization will help push the gangsters out over time.

"With millions of Canadians using illicit [marijuana] supply for decades and decades, it's going to be an iterative change," he said.

Palmer doubts there will be raids on stores currently selling illegal cannabis come Wednesday, pointing out that despite the attention around legalization, cannabis is not a top concern for police when it comes to public safety.

"The marijuana trade is important but it's not the most important drug issue going on in Canada today," said Palmer. "Fentanyl kills 11 Canadians a day. Marijuana does not."

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Canadian police ready to deal with legal marijuana, chiefs say | CBC News

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The president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police is assuring the public that police departments across the country are prepared for Wednesday, when recreational marijuana becomes legal. "'I'm here to tell Canadians that police are ready," said Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer at a news conference.

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Canadian Rapper Classified Stands behind cannabis 

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Canadian Rapper Classified Stands behind cannabis 

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Many artist and influencers within Canada have a great deal of persuasion on the public and with weed coming into play it is easy to point out who stands and who doesn’t. Classified is one of many artists who will have a big impact on the marijuana community with his influence now that weed is legal. This MSN blog explains how even Classified is confused about some of the rules and regulations of the new law. Including direct resources from Classified himself the blog is a great way to reach a large audience.

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The Canadian Press 2018-10-17 David Friend

TORONTO - Nova Scotia rapper Classified has been a proponent of smoking marijuana for years, but he says Canada's new legalization laws have left him confused over the ways he's allowed to promote the cannabis lifestyle.

He knows it's within his rights to express his love for weed. And he's allowed to talk publicly about buying shares of OrganiGram, an East Coast cannabis company he struck a loose business relationship with earlier this year.

After that it gets a bit hazy, since most celebrity endorsements of a brand are prohibited under the Cannabis Act.

"I was emailing OrganiGram going, 'you guys know I'm actually an investor so we can probably get away with advertising more.' I'm kind of curious to see what they're going to come back and say," he says, sporting a baseball cap emblazoned with a logo for the company's first recreational weed brand.

"They're so careful not to cross that line. Almost to the point where I'm barely doing anything. I'll bring them ideas and they're like, 'No we can't do that.'"

"I don't even know what they're paying me for. Like I'm wearing a hat, I'm trying," he adds.

Classified, whose real name is Luke Boyd, has been at the forefront of Canadian hip hop for over a decade, making him a valuable asset for young cannabis companies looking for prominent pot smokers. He's worked with Buck 65, produced singer Ria Mae and swapped rhymes on a track with weed aficionado Snoop Dogg.

The rapper also seems eager to test the boundaries of the new federal laws. His latest music video might even do that once Health Canada catches a whiff of it.

"Legal Marijuana," released Wednesday to coincide with legalization, features Classified standing with dozens of people in a public park as they rap along with his verses and every so often toke up and exhale a puff of smoke.

That part of the video should be fine under the law.

What might raise legal questions is a line he speaks that could be deemed an endorsement of a cannabis brand. The moment happens late in the video after Boyd adjusts his baseball cap and draws attention to the logo for Edison Cannabis Company, which is part of OrganiGram's recreational pot portfolio.

"Feelin' just right, rollin' up some of that Edison Reserve. Oh Canada, things have changed," he says.

The line doesn't appear in the version of the song featured on his album "Tomorrow Could Be the Day Things Change."

If Health Canada views the rapper saying a specific cannabis brand has him "feelin' just right," it's possible the regulator might see it as crossing the line as an endorsement, suggests Denes Rothschild, a lawyer who watches the cannabis industry.

"If he has some sort of business arrangement with them and they're paying him as an endorser... I think it raises a question," says Rothschild, a partner at the Borden Ladner Gervais law firm in Toronto.

"(The laws) are being interpreted and a lot of it is going to come down to where the government chooses to draw the line."

In an emailed statement, Organigram said it "was not involved in the production of Classified's video."

"We remain committed to ensuring our brands and marketing practices are compliant with Health Canada's regulations," said Ray Gracewood, Organigram's chief commercial officer.

Representatives for Heath Canada didn't immediately respond to questions about how music videos will be considered under the new laws.

In the meantime, Boyd is willing to open the floodgates to potential business opportunities. After investing roughly $20,000 into shares of cannabis companies, he says he's pleased with the upwards trend in their market value.

"I'm not a big stock guy at all, I don't take chances with my money," he says.

"But I'm making more on stock than I am on touring, probably."

Boyd's perspective on legalization is tempered by a sense of caution over widespread acceptance. He worries about the "negative" side of weed, especially with parents who smoke inside the house while their children are present.

"Hopefully people will be smart and realize it's not good to just sit here and blow smoke in kids' lungs and let them grow up with this type of lifestyle every day," he says.

At his family home in Enfield, N.S., just outside Halifax, he says it's a rule that nobody smokes around his three pre-teen daughters. He typically lights up inside his recording studio.

"I put in a different ventilation system so I can smoke, so it's not going through my house every day," he says.

"But at the same time my oldest knows I use it sometimes and it's no different to her than like, 'Oh mommy's having a glass a wine.' OK, well daddy's out there doing his thing."

In many ways, the rapper says legalization makes hardly any difference for him or his friends.

"They smoke it like it's been legal for years," he says. "I think most people have."

Follow @dfriend on Twitter.

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TORONTO - Nova Scotia rapper Classified has been a proponent of smoking marijuana for years, but he says Canada's new legalization laws have left him confused over the ways he's allowed to promote the cannabis lifestyle. He knows it's within his rights to express his love for weed.

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Canadians not being taken seriously because the new law is “ridiculous”

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Canadians not being taken seriously because the new law is “ridiculous”

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Because Canada is only the Second country to legalize Marijuana there has been some backlash from other countries due to inexperience. Although this video from Facebook is funny and pokes fun at the new law, it brings to the table a more serious issue. The video is a great way to catch your attention and guide you into the more important information. what needs to be seen is our country and Government looking foolish and not being taken seriously because the law seems ridiculous to outsiders or even many Canadian citizens as well. It really makes you think about how we as a whole want to present ourselves as Canadians.

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Border crossing for Canadians in the legalized cannabis industry

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Border crossing for Canadians in the legalized cannabis industry

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Crossing the border has always been a nerve-wracking experience for many Canadians and it is going to be worse for some people as of October 17, 2018. When crossing the border, the guards have the authority to ask questions pertaining your involvement with marijuana and although it is completely legal in Canada, they still have the right to deny you access if they do not like your response. As well if you work in a factory producing cannabis it is likely that you will have a hard time getting rid of the smell which would be another reason for denial at the border, or at least a hard time. This blog post from Macleans Magazine explains the complications that may occur when crossing the border.

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This will cause a lot of trouble, to say the least. Crossing the border has always been a tense experience. For the thousands of Canadians who will be joining the legalized cannabis industry, it's going to become even more harrowing.

Even though cannabis has been legalized for recreational or medical use in 30 U.S. states, the federal government still views it as a controlled substance. American border guards have immense latitude over who they let enter the country. If you're not a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident, your rights at the border are very limited. Border guards have every right to ask you about your employment, drug use or even your investments.

It doesn't matter where you're crossing over. Even if you're trying to enter a state like Washington or Maine, where cannabis is legal for recreational use, you can still be denied entry. Border guards work for the feds.

READ MORE: With its patchwork of half-baked, absurd laws, Canada isn't ready for legal weed

You don't have to be directly involved in growing or selling cannabis to be turned away. They can reject you if you admit to having smoked pot in the past or if you're involved in a business peripherally related to the cannabis industry. Worst of all, if you do get blocked at the border for any of these reasons, you could be deemed permanently inadmissible for entry to the U.S. That happened to Sam Znaimer, a Vancouver venture capitalist, who was denied entry because of his investments in legal American cannabis companies. Jay Evans, an equipment manufacturer who sells machines to legal B.C. cannabis producers, was also permanently denied entry because he was seen as living off the avails of the drug trade.

This doesn't necessarily mean they can never go to America again. If banned, Canadians can apply for waivers, which last between one and five years, to let them visit the U.S. But those cost around $600 and can take up to a year to process. Those last-minute day trips to the outlet mall or a Buffalo Sabres game will be a lot more difficult.

So what can you do if you're a law-abiding Canadian in the cannabis industry who needs to take a trip down south? Unfortunately, there aren't many options. First, you might want to assess whether the trip is absolutely necessary. If it is, it might be a good idea to talk to an American immigration lawyer beforehand.

The most important thing is to not lie to border guards-lying is another criterion for deeming someone inadmissible. But if a border guard starts to ask if you've ever smoked a joint or in what industry you work, rather than going into detail about the new line of Bluetooth-enabled vaporizers you're selling, you can politely ask for a withdrawal of application for admission. If they decide to grant that to you-it's at their discretion-you won't be able to enter the country at that moment, but you also won't be permanently banned.

RELATED: The marijuana nightmare: Trudeau is legalizing weed, but it hasn't been pretty

You do have a small number of rights at the border. Border guards can't force you to take a drug test or a lie-detector test. They can, however, go through your phone or other electronics to look for evidence of illegal activity. So wiping your phone clean before you attempt to make a crossing isn't a bad idea.

As the number of people working in the legal cannabis industry increases after legalization, more Canadians will be caught in the dragnet-and there's not much our government can do about it. Though Canada is keeping American authorities in the loop on legalization, it's unlikely that the tough-on-crime Trump administration will make it easier for Canadians in the cannabis industry to enter the States.

Instead, we'll be returning to a time not too dissimilar to the 1920s, when the U.S. banned alcohol, but the booze continued to flow freely in many parts of Canada. In some ways, the situation is even more extreme than during Prohibition. Back then, the border was a much more fluid entity. The post-9/11 border regime, coupled with an American administration that enjoys taking shots at Canada, means there's likely little relief coming for frustrated Canadians who are treated like criminals by American authorities.

Prohibition contributed to the most significant cross-border tensions between Canada and the U.S. since the War of 1812 a century earlier. Now, 100 years later, tensions may once again reach fever pitch.

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How will marijuana legalization change the U.S. border for Canadians? - Macleans.ca

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This will cause a lot of trouble, to say the least. Crossing the border has always been a tense experience. For the thousands of Canadians who will be joining the legalized cannabis industry, it's going to become even more harrowing. Even though cannabis has been legalized for recreational or medical use in 30 U.S.

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Growing Job sector due to legalization of cannabis

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Growing Job sector due to legalization of cannabis

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Although there are lots of Canadians who believe Cannabis will only have a negative impact on our country there are some upsides. According to Statistics Canada, there were nearly 2,400 people employed by 55 licensed marijuana producers at the end of 2017. This is almost triple the job openings in association with marijuana than in previous years.  This article taken from Twitter, posted by AmeriCann Inc gives some more insight on the rapidly growing job sector.

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The legalization of #cannabis in Canada has created a new and rapidly growing job sector. Read more from @washingtonpost >> https://t.co/adYBT5gyYa

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The legalization of #cannabis in Canada has created a new and rapidly growing job sector. Read more from @washingtonpost >> https://t.co/adYBT5gyYa

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The legalization of #cannabis in Canada has created a new and rapidly growing job sector. Read more from @washingtonpost >> https://t.co/adYBT5gyYa
— AmeriCann, Inc. (@ACANINFO) November 15, 2018

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The legalization of #cannabis in Canada has created a new and rapidly growing job sector. Read more from @washingtonpost >> https://t.co/adYBT5gyYa

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The legalization of #cannabis in Canada has created a new and rapidly growing job sector. Read more from @washingtonpost >> https://t.co/adYBT5gyYa

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The legalization of #cannabis in Canada has created a new and rapidly growing job sector. Read more from @washingtonpost >> https://t.co/adYBT5gyYa

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Marijuana Legalization not working in Canada?

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Marijuana Legalization not working in Canada?

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This blog post written by Thomas McDonald on MTL blogs focuses on 6 signs that cannabis legalization is not working in Canada. A few examples are too much bureaucracy, not enough stock, and driving under the influence. The blog is a great way to share insight from a fellow Canadian who has an opinion that many citizens can possibly relate to. Also when looking at blog posts from a public source there is usually an option to reply and communicate with the author.

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Recreational marijuana has been legal in Canada for just over one month, but the process has been marred with obstacles and controversy.

ALSO READ: Trudeau Is Unfortunately The World's Last Hope
TL;DR Listed below are just some of the major shortcomings of marijuana legalization that, in a few years, could jeopardize it.
Part of this awkwardness has to do with the lack of real precedent. Legalization has been a grand experiment in Canada. It is only the second country and first major economy to permit widespread cannabis sales. As such, it has had to forge its own rules largely from scratch.

But there are greater, more longstanding problems, too. In fact, as it stands, the new, legal status of marijuana may be in jeopardy if some of these issues are not resolved within its first few years.

Listed below are just some of the early signs that, right now, indicate marijuana legalization is not working in Canada.

Major supply problems will last years

In just the first week after legalization, customers noticed that shelves began to empty. After two weeks, it was clear that there were major supply issues.

In Quebec, the société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) has had to close its stores three days per week in order to prolong its operating ability and manage its dwindling stock.

Now, it seems like these shortages will last years. According to Global News, it will be a long time before corporate suppliers are able to produce another viable crop.

The lack of legal cannabis undermines the principles at the very core of legalization. The drug may be legal, but now it's simply unavailable.
Via MTLBlog
People are still driving high

Despite the government's efforts to educate the public of the dangers of marijuana ahead of legalization, too many Canadians are still getting behind the wheel while high.

According to the results of the 2018 Cannabis Survey, which Statistics Canada released yesterday, November 19th, the number of people who admit to driving high is unchanged from last year.

The stats are truly alarming: "among people who had used cannabis in the past 12 months, 39% reported that they have ever driven within two hours of using cannabis, and of those who had driven after using cannabis, 43% did so within the past 30 days, 27% within the past 12 months, and 31% more than 12 months ago."

While it may be too early to draw conclusions about the effect of the government's campaign to educate the public on cannabis, these early results are not encouraging.

Recall that public safety was one of the central arguments behind legalization efforts. Legal cannabis, proponents argued, would remove the gag on public instutitions and allow for more widespread discussion about the drug and lead to more responsible consumption. So far, that is not the case.

There is too much bureaucracy

Bureaucratic impediments are a major contributor to the nationwide cannabis shortage. According to the federal Cannabis Act, cannabis producers must apply for permits from Health Canada. Unfortunately, however, the agency has been slow to issue licenses.

Supply has also so far been determined by Statistics Canada estimates for demand. But a government survey on the subject is bound to yield skewed results. The fear of admitting marijuana consumption to a government agency is an uncontrollable variable.

Strict regulations also control every aspect of cannabis packaging and sales. In provinces where the government has a monopoly on marijuana distribution, such obstacles multiply. In Quebec's SQDC locations, customers must pass through at least two employees before they are able to access any product.

If these issues persist, marijuana legalization will render itself futile.

Customers are unhappy

- particularly in Ontario, where, according to an Ipsos/Global News poll, 40% of people who have ordered through the Ontatio Cannabis Store reported less than satisfactory service.

Hours-long wait times outside government-run stores and short supplies have also frustrated customers.

In most provinces, only a handful of legal dispensaries opened. In Ontario, there are none. This scarcity creates a huge accessibility problem, discouraging legal cannabis consumption.

Some also report that dispensaries are riping off customers. There is sometimes a discrepency between the amount of cannabis that product packages advertise and the amount they actually contains. This often has to do with leaf dehydration between packaging and sale, but it's nonetheless aggravating.

Law enforcement was unprepared

Ambiguity in the text of cannabis laws has posed challenges to law enforcement.

Police in Quebec, for example, have admitted that they're not exactly sure how to enforce one provision that strictly regulates the transportation of cannabis in a vehicle. The result is that some drivers have been arrested despite claiming to have followed the law.

There is further no definite roadside test to catch high motorists. Fines are issued and arrests are made solely at the discretion of individual officers. That method, of course, leaves room for error and misdiagnosis. In extreme cases, police may force drivers to undergo a blood test at the local police station, but this practice is not sustainable; such tests involve too much time and too many resources to be useful in every case.

Without the proper tools and training to enforce the law after legalization, police have been left to their own devices. These problems will likely persist for years.

The black market is actually growing

According to a report from The Globe and Mail earlier this month, legalization has actually led to a spike in black market marijuana sales.

The reasons for this increase in illegal sales are outlined previously in this list: customer disatisfaction, lack of accessibility, and supply shortages.

If legalization is going to work, governments and cannabis suppliers will need to adapt to suit the needs of marijuana consumers.

Right now, they are unable and unwilling to do so. For this reason especially, marijuana legalization appears to not be working in Canada.

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6 Signs That Marijuana Legalization Is Not Working In Canada

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Recreational marijuana has been legal in Canada for just over one month, but the process has been marred with obstacles and controversy. ALSO READ: Trudeau Is Unfortunately The World's Last Hope TL;DR Listed below are just some of the major shortcomings of marijuana legalization that, in a few years, could jeopardize it.