On October 17, 2018, in front of the Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada, a group of people dressed in various colors gathered here, holding banners and wearing strange smiles on their faces. This day is destined to be remembered in Canadian history.
On that day, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed a landmark bill, announcing the legalization of recreational cannabis nationwide.
This decision detonated like a powder keg, causing a strong reaction in the international community.
Canada became the second country in the world to legalize cannabis after Uruguay and the first in the G7 to implement nationwide legalization of recreational cannabis.
So, why did Canada make this decision?
Did they not know the possible consequences? What does Canada look like today?
Let us revisit history, explore the origins and developments of this controversial policy, and see if Canada feels any regret six years later.
Looking back to 1923, Canada classified cannabis as an illegal substance, and any related activities could face severe penalties.
However, over time, public perceptions of cannabis gradually changed.
In 2001, Canada became the first country in the world to legalize medical cannabis.
This decision was like opening Pandora's box, laying the foundation for future cannabis policies.
At that time, Health Minister Allan Rock stated, "We must recognize that some patients do indeed need cannabis to alleviate their suffering. Our goal is to provide them with a safe, regulated channel to access the medical help they need."
By 2015, it was estimated that Canada had 4.9 million cannabis consumers nationwide, with a staggering total consumption of 698 tons, an increase of 224 tons compared to ten years ago and doubling from twenty years prior.
In 2015, when Trudeau ran for the federal premiership as a member of the Liberal Party, he proposed a platform for cannabis legalization, arguing that "prohibiting cannabis use only drives people to the black market; the government should oversee its production and sale to protect the legal rights of users."
At that time, people had yet to realize the absurdity of this platform.
On June 19, 2018, the Canadian Senate passed the bill for legalizing recreational cannabis with a vote of 52 in favor and 29 against.
Subsequently, on October 17, the Cannabis Act officially took effect, legalizing recreational cannabis across the country.
Under the new law, adults aged 18 and over can legally possess up to 30 grams of cannabis and are allowed to grow up to four cannabis plants at home.
At the same time, the government implemented strict protective measures for minors; any act of selling cannabis to minors could result in a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.
To ensure the regulated use of cannabis, the Canadian government established over 3,000 licensed cannabis stores nationwide.
Statistics indicate that about 72% of consumers choose to purchase cannabis through legal markets, thereby weakening the influence of the black market.
In an interview, Prime Minister Trudeau stated, "Our goal is to reduce illegal trade through strict market regulation and ensure that minors are kept away from the influence of cannabis. This is not only a legal reform but also a social experiment."
However, has Canada succeeded in allowing cannabis legalization while prohibiting access for minors? Let us continue to explore.
Canada's bold experiment triggered a ripple effect worldwide, prompting many countries to reevaluate their cannabis policies, with notable changes occurring in the United States.
Although federal law in the U.S. still classifies cannabis as an illegal drug, the attitudes among states vary drastically.
As of 2020, 15 states and Washington D.C. had legalized recreational and medical cannabis.
An increasing number of states are also considering related legislation.
For instance, in the November 2020 vote in New Jersey, over 67% of voters supported cannabis legalization.
Governor Phil Murphy stated after the results were announced, "This is a historic moment; we can finally end the injustices caused by cannabis prohibition and bring about positive changes to our criminal justice system."
However, global attitudes towards cannabis are not uniform.
In Asia, countries including China and Japan maintain an all-encompassing prohibition against all forms of cannabis.
China's National Narcotics Control Commission has explicitly stated, "Our attitude towards cannabis is one of resolute prohibition, not only for legal reasons but also based on our cultural traditions and social values."
European countries tend to be more lenient. Amsterdam's "coffeeshops" are well-known, where customers can legally purchase and use small amounts of cannabis.
Portugal was the first to decriminalize all drugs, including cannabis, back in 2001.
However, cannabis legalization has not been a smooth process.
Taking Colorado as an example, which was the first state to legalize recreational cannabis in 2012, despite a significant increase in cannabis consumption and transactions, drug-related traffic accidents and crime rates also surged.
Colorado State Patrol's Robert Taylor stated, "Since cannabis legalization, drug-related driving incidents have noticeably increased, presenting new challenges to traffic safety."
The implementation of cannabis legalization policies has had profound impacts on society.
According to data released by Statistics Canada in March 2023, five years after the legalization of recreational cannabis, over one-third of Canadians aged 18 to 44 reported using cannabis in the past year.
Surveys indicated that 38.4% of those aged 18 to 24 admitted to using cannabis, while the percentage for those aged 25 to 44 was 34.5%.
Among those over 45, the usage rate dropped to 15.5%.
Even more startling, about 10% of respondents aged 18 to 44 reported that they use cannabis nearly every day, while the rate for those over 45 was only 4.8%.
Additionally, research indicated that approximately 72.4% of daily cannabis users felt they had lost control over their cannabis consumption, highlighting the dependency issues that frequent use can bring.
Maria Rodriguez, a psychology professor at the University of Toronto, pointed out, "Long-term cannabis use can negatively affect users' cognitive functions and social abilities, and we need more research to understand the long-term consequences of these effects."
It is noteworthy that cannabis has now become the most widely used drug globally, with approximately 183 million users, far exceeding other types of drugs.
In 2015, cannabis products, including cannabis and hashish, accounted for the largest drug seizures worldwide, totaling 7,317 tons, while cocaine was a distant second with only 864 tons seized.
The United Nations' 2016 drug report mentioned that while there was an increase in drug use among the 15-64 age group globally from 2006 to 2014, the number of drug users has stabilized in recent years, suggesting that the drug issue has been somewhat controlled.
However, cannabis legalization has also brought about unexpected economic fluctuations. In Canada, the demand for cannabis surged, leading to shortages in physical stores and online shops, and cannabis companies' stock prices soared.
For example, Canopy Growth Corp reached a peak stock price of CAD 65.76 on the day of cannabis legalization.
In 2018, Canada’s cannabis sales reached USD 700 million, with projections indicating further growth in the coming years.
The government benefited from tax revenues, and the booming cannabis industry also spurred related employment and economic growth.
However, the prosperity of the legal market has not completely eliminated black market transactions.
Many consumers still choose to purchase more potent illegal cannabis through informal channels, raising concerns about the effectiveness of regulation.
Opponents argue that the psychological dependence and negative impact on adolescents' brain development caused by cannabis also deserve attention.
Research has shown that the THC component in recreational cannabis can lead to excessive dopamine secretion, causing hallucinations and increasing the risk of depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia among teenagers.
Currently, the U.S. presents a contradictory state regarding cannabis policies.
Federal law has classified cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance since 1970, prohibiting its use and trade; however, states have begun to break through this restriction, gradually implementing cannabis legalization policies.
For example, Colorado began its recreational cannabis legalization in 2012.
Governor John Hickenlooper stated upon signing the bill, "This legislation will help us build a fairer and more effective justice system; we will redirect resources from punishing cannabis users to combatting more serious crimes."
However, this decision has led to unexpected consequences.
The booming cannabis market in Colorado resulted in a surge of drug-related traffic accidents.
According to data from the 2019 traffic accident survey, the percentage of traffic accidents caused by cannabis use rose from 8% in 2010 to 21% in 2019.
Meanwhile, the percentage of teenagers using cannabis has shown an upward trend in many states, raising concerns among parents and educators.
For California, the cannabis legalization policy has not only failed to bring the expected fiscal benefits but also posed new challenges to social safety. According to data from the California Highway Patrol, traffic accidents caused by cannabis use increased by 32%.
Of course, many people also believe that cannabis legalization has brought benefits to society.
According to a survey, many users reported that cannabis effectively alleviates symptoms of anxiety and depression, improving their quality of life.
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