Legalize marijuana

Canada had some of the highest rates of smoking cannabis in the world with 21% of youth as well as 30% adults reporting about using cannabis before. I’m no doctor, no psychiatrist, yet I am going to be affected by this law i’ve researched the topic enough to have made my decision about why they should legalize marijuana. This law is going to be affecting all of us in this very room and everybody should be made aware of its positives, in which it will benefit Canada’s economy as well as improve our health care and treatment. Yet we all must also be aware of the repercussions of this law, since this law is new there will be loopholes and the government must deal with these issues, as well as effectively and safely distributing the product to protect the young yet distribute it to its targeted audience.

Marijuana has been legalized in some states for example Colorado for quite sometime, and since our very own marijuana laws are being structured around America’s we can expect similar outcomes as well. Legalizing marijuana will open up a whole new market and industry for Canada to explore if they expand safely, they are modeling marijuana laws about distribution after tobacco laws “ The proposed Cannabis Act and the Tobacco Act both focus on common public health objectives, such as restricting access to youth and enhancing public awareness and health risks”. So we know Canada has a plan to contain the potential threat of cannabis going into youths hands, and having it legalized will now create more job opportunities as well such as manufacturing plants for example increasing Canada’s economy greatly. A great example of this would be the state of Colorado it took them four years to top over 1 billion in sales, once the cannabis business firmly establishes itself legally in Canada it will bring in some serious income for the country.

Having cannabis legalized will also make it easier for people who use it medically to obtain it. Marijuana has numerous health benefits when taken at appropriate dosages, these effects such as helping control epileptic seizures. significantly reducing the pain for the patient and inducing them in a drowsy state ( best in a 9.4% of THC which is the substance that causes the effects of cannabis). It can also help suffering cancer patients relax and get over there nausea due to chemotherapy , I have seen the effects of medical marijuana on my grandfather before he passed away and within those last months he was the happiest he had been since cancer had afflicted him, all thanks to the medical marijuana, he didn't crave it or need it but it helped him feel less pain and be more like himself again. There was a study conducted in 2010 at harvard medical school which states why that's the reason ”cannabis is so effective because of its ability to relief and improve their mood while acting as a sedative as well”.

Legalizing cannabis would also lower crime rates such as drug trafficking . Legalizing the drug will have massive effects on the drug war and can cause serious damage to the organizations and cartels operating them. Such as the mexican cartels who are suffering a great deal since some of the American states have legalized cannabis, for example within the years of 2014-2015 border officers seen a decrease of marijuana being smuggled across the border, from up to 4 million pounds of cannabis down to 1.5 pounds at the end of 2015. This could also play into a factor in Canada as it could disrupt the cartels in British Columbia and other major provinces liked with drug cartels ( mention the ties between mexican cartels and British Columbian cartel.)

Let me end by saying I fully support the legalization of marijuana if controlled and distributed properly and effectively. Cannabis has many healthy effects if managed correctly and Canada acknowledged this fact when passing the bill to legalize it, they realized that it could be a medical breakthrough as well as open up a new market to boost the economy. But I’ve seen the effects of medical Marijuana first hand and seen it bring an old man back to life in a sense for his last remaining month’s, if we have the ability to boost our economy and create jobs and perhaps legalize marijuana which could help somebody feel at ease there last month’s of life what is our right to restrict our nation from that? Thank you all for listening and I hope you realize the importance of legalizing this drug.