"Legalizing Recreational Marijuana, Canada Begins a National Experiment" New York Times' Dan Bilefsky, Oct. 17th, 2018
Article Summary by Milana Baldizzi
Cannabis and hemp usage can be traced back thousands of years, yet it's only recently that nations are legalizing marijuana. In a recent New York Times article written by Dan Bilefsky, we focus in on Canada's new federal cannabis act, which will affect not only the country's economic being, but its social and cultural disposition. This makes Canada the first major world economy to legalize recreational marijuana. The federal legalization of recreational usage on pre-rolled joints, fresh or dried marijuana flowers, and cannabis oil leaves many proud and supportive, but some are still skeptical. Some even claim it to be an "uncontrolled experiment". However, this is not to take away from the vast amount of positives of marijuana usage. It's widely known that medical marijuana is used to treat patients with mental disorders, cancer, and other diseases or disabilities, and marijuana for medical purposes has been legal in Canada since 2001. Continuing off of these positive effects from medical marijuana, government officials moved forward with letting up on restrictions on recreational usage. Under the new law, adults are allowed to carry and share (with other adults) up to 30 grams of dried cannabis. Also, they are allowed to have up to 4 marijuana plants in their home, and grow their own cannabis. On the night of the legalization, Canadians stuck around for hours in line outside of newly opened dispensaries and retailers. They browsed through an array of product, ranging from the actual pot, to the accessories and tools in which you use to smoke it. There was even fear of a marijuana shortage, as so many people were purchasing online and stock quickly ran out.
In finality, this act will present new opportunities for the economy and for the culture of Canada in its progressiveness. Residents can now enjoy smoking and sharing marijuana without fear of being arrested, and some even put forth the idea of a decrease in the opioid epidemic that scourges many provinces.
In finality, this act will present new opportunities for the economy and for the culture of Canada in its progressiveness. Residents can now enjoy smoking and sharing marijuana without fear of being arrested, and some even put forth the idea of a decrease in the opioid epidemic that scourges many provinces.