Legalization of cannabis in Canada

Abstract

This article is about legalization of cannabis in Canada. It starts with marijuana first being criminalized almost hundred years ago. Article disribes the changes in attitudes towards cannabis in the 70's that followed the Hippie movement in the 60's, status quo for 30 years, legalization of cannabis for medical purposes in the dawn of the 21st centery. Described are arguments used by Canadian politician during the debate about the controversial bill C-45 that eventually became The Cannabis Act, which became a specific piece of legislation, with a devoted section prescribing criminal sanctions. Commities of experts have spent many hours debating, experimenting on pros and cons of the issue. The Cannabis Act sets strict rules on distribution to minors and manufacturing without a licence. By legalizing cannabis Canada violates many international trieties, not facing any consequences for those violations, making legalisation in other countries to be considered as a possibility. Canada did not solve cannabis black market by making cannabis legal. Legalization have not had a cataclismic effect on Canadian population. Follow up studies are to be done by the Government in 2021.