politics
Raouf.Ca
legalization_of_marijuana-1.pptx
Legalization of Marijuana
By Marc Demers
Progression of Points
The policy
What we know so far
Implications
Economic
Health Sector
Crime/Law
Canadian-American Relationship
“We will legalize, regulate, and restrict access to marijuana” – Justin Trudeau
What We Know So Far
Task Force has completed their analysis and report
Legislation is to be tabled in the Spring of 2017
Suggested minimum age’s 18, 19, or 21
Regulated pricing, tax rate per unit
Limits on production/licenses for producers
Implications
The Economy
The introduction of a ~$5-Billion industry
0.25% of GDP
Taxable revenue
Job creation to fill the industry
Many producers will be hiring as many as 200 employees
Introduction of new local small businesses
Current tax rates for cigarettes $3.10-$3.87 per pack (Ontario)
Health Sector
Smoking may become “normalized” again
11% of Canadians age 15 and over use marijuana
Research shows painkiller abuse and overdose is lower in states with legalization/medical marijuana laws
Limited research as its a Schedule I drug (In the USA as set by the DEA)
Estimated Medicare savings = half a billion dollars if all 50 states legalized.
Crime/Law
Deteriorate the black market
How will current marijuana based convictions be treated?
Current penalties:
Possession up to 30g - up to 6 months in prison and $1,000 in fines
Possession over 30g – associated with trafficking and can be up to 5 years
60,000 possession reports in 2014, 22,000 of which were charged
Will those with a previous record be pardoned?
How will we be able to monitor and control impaired driving?
Canadian-American Relationship
President Trump intends to the substance it completely illegal on the federal level
Immigration potential
Marijuana supply and international business
Marijuana Tourism Industry
Treaties - such as Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs
“an international treaty to prohibit production and supply of specific (nominally narcotic) drugs and of drugs with similar effects except under licence for specific purposes”
Questions
How do you think legislation may impact society?
Do you think regulation will be successful in keeping marijuana out of the hands of youth?
Do you think this is a smart move politically considering its effects on international relationships?
References
https://www.liberal.ca/realchange/marijuana/
http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2017/01/30/kwantlen-marijuana-course-legalize-pot.html
http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2017/01/30/kwantlen-marijuana-course-legalize-pot.html
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/erskine-smith-decriminalize-all-drugs-1.3958336
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/marijuana-will-likely-be-legalized-this-spring-that-that-creates-a-whole-lot-of-problems-for-roadside-testing
http://globalnews.ca/news/3223692/marijuana-legalization-could-normalize-smoking-again-canadian-experts-warn/
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/news/canada-marijuana-legalization/
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/legal-pot-has-its-benefits-but-little-economic-impact/article28788050/
http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/task-force-marijuana-groupe-etude/framework-cadre/index-eng.php#a1.7
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/tax/tt/
http://globalnews.ca/news/2995390/canada-will-see-900000-new-pot-smokers-under-legalization-poll-implies/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/07/13/one-striking-chart-shows-why-pharma-companies-are-fighting-legal-marijuana/?utm_term=.daa07b2520ac
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/10/04/how-we-created-a-canadian-prison-crisis.html
http://www.drugpolicy.org/blog/colorado-and-marijuana-legalization-one-year-later-what-has-changed
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/how-legalizing-marijuana-could-change-canada-us-relations/article33408556/
