Preview

Controlled Substances Act and Marijuana Prohibition in Canada

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1360 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Controlled Substances Act and Marijuana Prohibition in Canada
The Controlled Substances Act (Marijuana Prohibition)
CLN-4U Unit One Essay
Cailey Bazik

CLN 4U – Unit One Essay

Controlled Substances Act
Marijuana Prohibition

The Controlled substance act pertaining to Marijuana has been a long on going battle as to whether marijuana should be legal in Canada and taken out of this act. The law behind the drug has a long history and many failed attempts at decriminalization. There are both positive and negative effects to this law, but I believe the positive effects weigh out the negative and that because of this marijuana will be legal in the near future.

The Marijuana laws in Canada today are unresolved, as superior courts have ruled all cannabis laws to be of “no force or effect”. Although the federal level of courts have made this ruling it has not caused any changes to other Canadian jurisdictions, the Criminal Code or the Controlled Substances Act. (“Legal History of Cannabis in Canada) The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act was passed in 1996 by the government under Prime Minister John Cretien. It is Canada’s federal drug control statue. This act outlines penalties for possession, trafficking and production of the substances established as illegal, including Marijuana. (“Controlled Drugs and Substances Act) Canadian laws pertaining to drugs began in 1908 with the opium act, which was replaced by the opium and narcotic drug act in 1920. Marijuana however was not added to the confidential restricted list until 1923. (“Legal History of Cannabis in Canada”) Marijuana and the laws surrounding the issue only started to receive attention in the 1930’s and even then it was very minimal.

It wasn’t until the 1960’s where problems arose with the law. At this time the maximum penalty for possession of small amounts of cannabis was 6 months in prison and a $1000 fine. A government injury was commissioned and public hearings were held to analyze the law over a period of three years. A report on the findings of


Bibliography: 1.) Ballingall, Alex. "Canada." Thestar.com. The Toronto Star, 20 Nov. 2012. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. <http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2012/11/20/marijuana_legalization_or_decriminalization_backed_by_most_canadians_poll.html>. 2.) "Canadian Pot Use Four times Global Rate." Canadian Pot Use Four times Global Rate. N.p., 10 July 2007. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. <http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=67996149-9dee-4a3a-a86e-f7a022274658>. 3.) "Controlled Drugs and Substances Act." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 Oct. 2013. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlled_Drugs_and_Substances_Act>. 4.) Hathaway, Andrew. "Legal History and Cultural Experience of Cannabis." Www.heretohelp.ba.ca. N.p., 2009. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. <http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/visions/cannabis-vol5/the-legal-history-and-cultural-experience-of-cannabis>. 5.) "Legal History of Cannabis in Canada." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 Apr. 2013. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_Canada>. 6.)Wood, Evan, and Werner Antweiler. "Wood & Antweiler: Canada Should Follow America€™s Lead in Liberalizing Marijuana laws." Nationalpost.com. National Post, 18 Jan. 2013. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. <http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/01/21/wood-antweiler-canada-should-follow-americas-lead-in-liberalizing-marijuana-laws/>.
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Summary: The Blunt Truth
    • 373 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Summary: The Blunt Truth

    Marijuana is a drug that contains the chemical compound THC, Tetrahydrocannabinol. This compound is believed to be responsible for the psychoactive effects of seen in marijuana users. Marijuana comes from an Indian hemp plant. The part of the plant that contains the “drug THC” is found primarily in its flowers, as well as trace amounts in the seeds, leaves, and stems of the plant. This drug is used for leisure activities, cancer, and AIDS patients. Marijuana should be legalized in Canada because it can help with medical conditions; generate revenue for the government, and decrease the backlog in our already overburdened legal system. One of these points is well summarized by our trusted Prime Minister, Justin Trudaeu “The other…

    • 373 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why Trudeau Should Not Legalize Marijuana Analysis
    • 1304 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Why Trudeau Should Not Legalize Marijuana Analysis

    In Canada, approximately 47,000 deaths that are related to substance abuse occur each year (Teen Challenge). Drug addiction is an immensely growing issue in our society, especially among our youth. Over the past few decades, the youth drug rates have decreased, but with the impending legalization of marijuana, the future leads to increasing rates. The Trudeau government has passed a bill to legalized marijuana in the early summer of 2018. Many people state that marijuana is not a drug, simply because it is not a “hard” drug. The risks of marijuana are like any drug, it will effect your mind, body and behaviour.…

    • 1304 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Political Influence On Canada
    • 1433 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Political Influence On Canada

    In terms of politics, Canada’s primary parties, like the Conservatives and Liberals, target a multitude of issues. One of those can be the “Justice” system of policies and laws. A Conservative government perceives that they should decriminalize Marijuana, due to the possible dangerous outcomes from these drugs, and simply because of people…

    • 1433 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Criminal Justice Paper on Marijuana Decriminalization
    • 897 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Criminal Justice Paper on Marijuana Decriminalization

    In the 1800’s, cannabis, more commonly known as marijuana, was legal in most states in the United States, and was mostly used for medicinal purposes. The first notable instance of regulation in the U.S. was in 1906, with the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. After the Mexican Revolution in 1910, Mexican immigrants introduced the American public to marijuana use recreationally. Following the widespread use of marijuana in the ensuing years, more and more states created laws regulating marijuana use, cultivation, and distribution. Through the Uniform State Narcotics Act, use of Cannabis in every state was regulated by the mid 1930’s. Marijuana regulation at the federal level was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt with the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937.…

    • 897 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Persuasive Essay On Decriminalization In Canada
    • 620 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Persuasive Essay On Decriminalization In Canada

    As the young and supposedly reckless prime minister of Canada pushes for the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana, more questions arise. Such as appropriate rules to be set in place to control, restrict and regulate access and use of marijuana. With one of the most serious accidents today in canada is driving under the influence, causing many fatalities each year, so what will happen when another influential drug will be legalized in canada’s society? Will Canadians learn from other societies that have already legalized marijuana, and what rules are set in place, along with how well they work.…

    • 620 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Marijuana Legalization In Canada
    • 655 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Marijuana Legalization In Canada

    drug, while bringing in revenue for the government. If Canada wishes to legalize marijuana, they should follow the guidelines of the United States using policy diffusion. “Canada should follow the developments of changes in marijuana-related regulations in the United States, where some of its states viz, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska have already legalized recreational use of marijuana” (Hajizadeh 455). Policy diffusion is a very intriguing tool for the Canadian government to use in the situation involving legalizing marijuana. “Although experience of legalization in these states is different from the national legalization in Canada, these examples still can provide valuable information during the drafting of the new law in Canada.”…

    • 655 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Weed
    • 828 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Weed

    The history of Marijuana dates back to many, many years, and has served different cultures in various ways. Over the last few years however Marijuana has been adapted to fit our lifestyles, and social environment. Today many people around the world smoke Marijuana, for medicinal purposes, and the drug should be legalized permanently as ‘pot’ has many beneficial uses, including easing pain, helping Canada to stay away from debt, saving millions of acres in forestry and creating jobs for many people; raising Canada’s economic status.…

    • 828 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Justin Trudeau: Legalizing Marijuana In Canada
    • 271 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Justin Trudeau: Legalizing Marijuana In Canada

    Trudeau said in a recent speech, “The Liberal party is committed to legalizing and regulating marijuana. Controlling it in a way that is going to protect our kids and remove criminal elements from it. And we’re going to get started on that right away.”…

    • 271 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Legalizing Marijuana
    • 299 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Legalizing Marijuana

    First of all, We can't keep ignoring the fact that a large percentage of the world legally and illegally experience its euphoric and hallucinogenic effects. If used in moderation, some would compare marijuana with other substances such as alcohol and cigarettes in terms of its effect and the harm. In the states Colorado and Washington have already legalized the use for marijuana. Several other states are now also in favour of legalizing, taxing and regulating Marijuana. Currently, the production of medical marijuana in Canada is highly regulated. One must be legally licensed to sell it and they must also comply with extremely high standards of inspection from quality to safety and security of distribution. If it were to become legalized the same this can help eliminate unsafe usage for pot.…

    • 299 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Argumentative Essay: The Use Of Marijuana
    • 2008 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Argumentative Essay: The Use Of Marijuana

    In 1941 President Franklin Roosevelt signs an executive order that allows for the usage of marijuana for the production of “canvas, cordage, rope, oil and fodder… states were subsidized to produce industrial hemp in support of the war effort” (Pierre). Because of the reliance that the United States had this falling was inevitable but it was an emergency situation. This allowed production during WWI and the positive outcome of production. As the decade progressed there was more advancement towards the elimination of the drug. Subsequently in 1942 marijuana was removed from the US pharmacopeia. A year later in 1943, physicians were no longer able to prescribe medicine that contained cannabis, marijuana. Thus showing a positive improvement in where the drug can become more known for what it truly is instead of the reliable plant it was. Finally in 1945 the Roosevelt administration re-bans the industrial use of marijuana. Because of these acts and restrictions the government was able to initiate bigger acts upon this…

    • 2008 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Legalizing Marijuana Decriminalization
    • 1565 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Legalizing Marijuana Decriminalization

    “Like that of alcohol the criminal prohibition of marijuana is a dismal and destructive failure”, said John McKay of the Vancouver sun. Widespread availability of the drug exists because of violent drug cartels that reap billions of dollars in revenue. History has been known to repeat its self, and when one looks at the failure of alcohol prohibition, and the benefits that came with its abolishment, it becomes clear that this also applies to marijuana today. Once alcohol prohibition was done away with, the crime rates dropped dramatically. If marijuana is legalized it will lose its social taboo as did alcohol and drug cartels will lose their edge like the moonshiners of the 1920s and 1930s lost…

    • 1565 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Legalisation Debate
    • 1280 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Legalisation Debate

    Dennis, M.L. & W White (1999) ‘The Marijuana Legalization Debate: is There a Middle Ground’. In JA Inciardi (ed), The Drug Legalization Debate. Sage Publications.…

    • 1280 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Decriminalization of Marijuana
    • 2542 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Decriminalization of Marijuana

    In Canada, a high-level public official said the current marijuana prohibition was not working for the benefit of that country .The number of known marijuana users has grown from 55,000 to 350 million, a fact showing that prohibition of marijuana is not working.…

    • 2542 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    extended essay
    • 3063 Words
    • 13 Pages

    extended essay

    That is the query that this essay attempts to answer, exploring the early life of cannabis in this country; examining the relationship between the government and marijuana, the science in marijuana, and focusing on the economics of how legalized medical marijuana taxes can help the federal government and the states. In this essay, it will be seen why earlier attempts to outlaw marijuana paid off. Then analyze the effect prohibition has on the government, as well as the science and economic benefits of cannabis.…

    • 3063 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Legalization of Marijuana - Debate Speech
    • 727 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Legalization of Marijuana - Debate Speech

    Now that I have brought to light the many holes in the opposition’s case, I would like to move on to our case. My partner presented to you our first two contentions: a, that the legalization of marijuana would shift control of the drug trade into the governments hands, providing a far safer environment, and b, that far worse drugs are currently legal in Canada. I will provide our third and fourth contentions. But first, I would like to review side proposition’s plan.…

    • 727 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics