The most powerful factor about the legalization of Marijuana is the cost implications of maintaining cannabis prohibition to the federal and provincial governments, and in turn the average Canadian taxpayer. According to the Auditor General of
Since ¾ of Drug offences are Marijuana related, the majority of the $450 million spent across
This will only increase the amount of funding the federal government is forced to contribute to Drug control and enforcement, further charging the taxpayer. A more cost efficient way to regulate Marijuana is to set an age limit through provincial regulation, permitting for adult use of a substance less harmful than both alcohol and tobacco. Otherwise, it is left in the hands of organized crime, with the government continuing to spend millions on its prohibition, and not profiting from its continuous increase in use. In this situation, the regulation of Marijuana should not only be allowed, but would financially benefit the country.
Even after thousands of years of people using Marijuana to treat a variety of medical conditions, many still believe Marijuana is a Drug without therapeutic value. Patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy, or AIDS related AZT therapy, found smoking Marijuana to be an effective way to curb nausea (Health
Cannabis also lessens the frequency of seizures in epilepsy, and controls eye pressure in glaucoma patients (National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Drug Policy Information Sheet”). Although medical Marijuana has been approved for use under certain circumstances, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to obtain cannabis for treatment purposes in
Fortunately, since the legalization of Marijuana for medical use occurred almost 5 years ago, one could assume a proper risk assessment of the Drug will soon be completed through Health
The implication of marijuana’s prohibition is financially devastating to the federal government. As false social perceptions are the only grounds for this ban to be upheld, and the medical sciences continue to find new usages for cannabis as therapeutic treatment, it remains unfounded to continue its outlaw. Through government enforced regulation, it becomes noticeable that the benefits of Marijuana legalization balanced the other disadvantages.
