Should Marijuana Be Legalized - 1054 Words

Historically, marijuana has been an illegal substance in Canada since 1923, mainly because of the perspective that the harmful consequences of its abuse and its addictive nature outweigh the significant benefits of making it a legal drug. Although laws have evolved as culture and society has evolved, Canada continues to struggle with the decriminalization of marijuana, despite its numerous benefits, it continues to form an archaic boundary line. This essay will discuss: 1) how laws regarding the possession of marijuana have evolved; 2) how public attitudes have changed; and 3) the reasons why current laws should be changed to legalize marijuana. In 1908, the Opium Act restricted Canadians use, sale, and importation of opium (Carstairs).†¦show more content†¦This was done at a time when racial tensions were high and possibly contributed to the criminalization of marijuana. In 1969, the Canadian government established a Commission of Inquiry into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs. They were known as the Le Dain Commission, named after its chair Dean Gerald Le Dain (Marijuana: Key dates in the evolution of Canadian attitudes, laws). By 1972 Gerald Le Dain along with other members of the inquiry recommended the abolishment of the restriction of marijuana for independent use. As time progressed, societies and nations became more aware of the various uses of marijuana, which came as a result of research and increased knowledge about the potential benefits of marijuana. Other countries began to change their laws towards the decriminalization of marijuana. In 1976, the Netherlands officially legalized the use of marijuana (Marijuana: Key dates in the evolution of Canadian attitudes, laws). One year after, Canadian Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, in an address to a group of students stated, â€Å"If you have a joint and you re smoking it for your private pleasure, you shouldn t be hassled(Marijuana: Key dates in the evolution of Canadian attitudes, laws).Also in the United States, New Mexico passed the first state law, acknowledging the medicinal value of marijuana, and followed by California as the first state to officially legalize medicinal marijuana (Marijuana: Key dates in the