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Other news sources[1] are reporting it as "legalize", not decriminalize. [1]http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/04/20/canada-marijuana-legaliza_n_9738222.html?nc

by schwap 10y ago

Other news sources[1] are reporting it as "legalize", not decriminalize. [1]http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/04/20/canada-marijuana-legaliza_n_9738222.html?ncid=tweetlnkcahpmg00000002 http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/04/20/canada-marijuana-leg...

notatoad 10y ago
Legalization rather than decriminalization was certainly the campaign promise
- schwap 10y ago
  Yes but decriminalization could have been an easier first step. So I think it's interesting they went directly to legalization.
  - MAGZine 10y ago
    It's not without rationale: 'Prime Minister Justin Trudeau fired back saying “decriminalization actually gives a legal stream of income to criminal organizations.”'[0] [0] http://globalnews.ca/news/2650706/canada-to-introduce-pot-legalization-legislation-in-2017/ http://globalnews.ca/news/2650706/canada-to-introduce-pot-le...
ufmace 10y ago
Interesting, the linked article called it decriminalize, but the text sounded more like full legalization to me. If you have the political support to fully legalize, why take half measures?
- schwap 10y ago
  From what I understand, legalization is a lot more complicated in relation to international drug treaties that Canada is a part of.
  - ufmace 10y ago
    Could be. I wonder if they would be the first to fully legalize on a national level? I can't think of any other country that has.
    - deleted 10y ago
      [deleted]
    - kristofferR 10y ago
      Uruguay
      - moonfern 10y ago
        That law passed in 2013 and they're still implementing the large scale sales part of the deal. Which in this case means that pharmacies will distributed the drug to "registered" customers. That will start in the second part of the year. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/24/uruguay-legal-marijuana-next-phase-regulation http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/24/uruguay-legal-m...
    - biot 10y ago
      Portugal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_policy_of_Portugal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_policy_of_Portugal Since July 2001, all drugs are legal subject to personal consumption limits.
      - romek 10y ago
        From the same article: "In Portugal, recreational use of cannabis is forbidden by law; also the medicinal use is not yet officially recognized"
      - ufmace 10y ago
        Looks like decriminalization to me, which matches up with what I heard. Meaning that personal users don't get thrown in jail, but the supply chain is still illegal, and nobody would dare try to set up a legitimate business for production or distribution. So all of the profits of the trade go to criminal gangs and street violence instead of either legitimate, tax-paying companies or the Government itself.
- jonah 10y ago
  Could just be bad/ignorant writing where the author doesn't know/consider the distinction?
- redthrowaway 10y ago
  The Guardian is simply wrong. The Liberals fought the last election on a promise to legalize, and just today in Question Period Trudeau rejected calls to decriminalize first, saying that it does nothing to keep pot away from kids and legitimizes a significant income stream for organized crime. It's simply poor fact-checking by the Guardian.
adiabatty 10y ago
What's the difference between the two?
- a-priori 10y ago
  "Legalize" means it's fully legal to produce, distribute and buy. It may be regulated, so you may need a license and follow certain rules, but other than that it's like any other product on the market. "Decriminalize" means it's still illegal to produce, distribute or buy, but it's not a criminal offence. So you may be fined, etc., but you can't be arrested or go to jail for it.
  - mtgx 10y ago
    It should be legalized, but with one condition: any and all advertising should be banned. In fact, it should apply to all drugs (as it is in other countries).
    - ArtDev 10y ago
      That is fine, but beer and liquor need to be included as well. Just because alcohol prohibition ended first, doesn't mean it deserves special treatment (I live in a state where cannabis is legal).
- nucleardog 10y ago
  Legalized = "you are not prohibited from doing this" Decriminalized = "you're not allowed to do this, but we won't treat you like a criminal if you do" Rather than years in jail and a criminal record, the punishment would be more akin to a speeding ticket - pay a fine, go on your way.
  - mgbmtl 10y ago
    They're also discussing how to commercialize it (and tax it), which is an important aspect of legalization. It's likely that many provinces will choose to control sales through state-controlled companies.
dumbguy 10y ago
It will be legalize, not decriminalize. The party has majority, they could have passed a decrim on day one. They have no intent of decriminalizing.
- tsieling 10y ago
  No, they could not pass it on day one. Getting legislation together like this takes support building in other areas of government, and getting it right so it isn't toppled because of flawed wording takes crafting. They need to bring people on board and do it well or it falls apart. It takes time.
  - dumbguy 10y ago
    You're confusing the two. Decriminalization needs nothing more than to be removed from the controlled substances list, and being removed from the criminal code. It's easy peasy, and could be done easily within a week. You don't need anything because it's no longer criminal, you just stop prosecuting them. Quick announcement to the feeds on the streets, and you're running. Legalization on the other hand, which is what the current gov is going for, is legalization. And that requires all those special departments, policies, procedures, laws, etc...
    - joe_the_user 10y ago
      Edit: I thought you were the one with your definitions reversed but it seem news organizations and stories actually seem to also use contradictory definition. See for example: http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2014/06/economist-explains-10 http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2014/06/ec... versus http://globalnews.ca/news/2650706/canada-to-introduce-pot-legalization-legislation-in-2017/ http://globalnews.ca/news/2650706/canada-to-introduce-pot-le...
      - dumbguy 10y ago
        No, those are the same in both articles. Mulcair's views, are largely irrelevant now.
dang 10y ago
Ok, we put "legalize" in the title above.

by schwap 10y ago

notatoad 10y ago

Legalization rather than decriminalization was certainly the campaign promise

schwap 10y ago
Yes but decriminalization could have been an easier first step. So I think it's interesting they went directly to legalization.
- MAGZine 10y ago
  It's not without rationale: 'Prime Minister Justin Trudeau fired back saying “decriminalization actually gives a legal stream of income to criminal organizations.”'[0] [0] http://globalnews.ca/news/2650706/canada-to-introduce-pot-legalization-legislation-in-2017/ http://globalnews.ca/news/2650706/canada-to-introduce-pot-le...

ufmace 10y ago

Interesting, the linked article called it decriminalize, but the text sounded more like full legalization to me. If you have the political support to fully legalize, why take half measures?

schwap 10y ago
From what I understand, legalization is a lot more complicated in relation to international drug treaties that Canada is a part of.
- ufmace 10y ago
  Could be. I wonder if they would be the first to fully legalize on a national level? I can't think of any other country that has.
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
  - kristofferR 10y ago
    Uruguay
    - moonfern 10y ago
      That law passed in 2013 and they're still implementing the large scale sales part of the deal. Which in this case means that pharmacies will distributed the drug to "registered" customers. That will start in the second part of the year. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/24/uruguay-legal-marijuana-next-phase-regulation http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/24/uruguay-legal-m...
  - biot 10y ago
    Portugal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_policy_of_Portugal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_policy_of_Portugal Since July 2001, all drugs are legal subject to personal consumption limits.
    - romek 10y ago
      From the same article: "In Portugal, recreational use of cannabis is forbidden by law; also the medicinal use is not yet officially recognized"
    - ufmace 10y ago
      Looks like decriminalization to me, which matches up with what I heard. Meaning that personal users don't get thrown in jail, but the supply chain is still illegal, and nobody would dare try to set up a legitimate business for production or distribution. So all of the profits of the trade go to criminal gangs and street violence instead of either legitimate, tax-paying companies or the Government itself.
jonah 10y ago
Could just be bad/ignorant writing where the author doesn't know/consider the distinction?
redthrowaway 10y ago
The Guardian is simply wrong. The Liberals fought the last election on a promise to legalize, and just today in Question Period Trudeau rejected calls to decriminalize first, saying that it does nothing to keep pot away from kids and legitimizes a significant income stream for organized crime. It's simply poor fact-checking by the Guardian.

adiabatty 10y ago

What's the difference between the two?

a-priori 10y ago
"Legalize" means it's fully legal to produce, distribute and buy. It may be regulated, so you may need a license and follow certain rules, but other than that it's like any other product on the market. "Decriminalize" means it's still illegal to produce, distribute or buy, but it's not a criminal offence. So you may be fined, etc., but you can't be arrested or go to jail for it.
- mtgx 10y ago
  It should be legalized, but with one condition: any and all advertising should be banned. In fact, it should apply to all drugs (as it is in other countries).
  - ArtDev 10y ago
    That is fine, but beer and liquor need to be included as well. Just because alcohol prohibition ended first, doesn't mean it deserves special treatment (I live in a state where cannabis is legal).
nucleardog 10y ago
Legalized = "you are not prohibited from doing this" Decriminalized = "you're not allowed to do this, but we won't treat you like a criminal if you do" Rather than years in jail and a criminal record, the punishment would be more akin to a speeding ticket - pay a fine, go on your way.
- mgbmtl 10y ago
  They're also discussing how to commercialize it (and tax it), which is an important aspect of legalization. It's likely that many provinces will choose to control sales through state-controlled companies.

dumbguy 10y ago

It will be legalize, not decriminalize. The party has majority, they could have passed a decrim on day one. They have no intent of decriminalizing.

tsieling 10y ago
No, they could not pass it on day one. Getting legislation together like this takes support building in other areas of government, and getting it right so it isn't toppled because of flawed wording takes crafting. They need to bring people on board and do it well or it falls apart. It takes time.
- dumbguy 10y ago
  You're confusing the two. Decriminalization needs nothing more than to be removed from the controlled substances list, and being removed from the criminal code. It's easy peasy, and could be done easily within a week. You don't need anything because it's no longer criminal, you just stop prosecuting them. Quick announcement to the feeds on the streets, and you're running. Legalization on the other hand, which is what the current gov is going for, is legalization. And that requires all those special departments, policies, procedures, laws, etc...
  - joe_the_user 10y ago
    Edit: I thought you were the one with your definitions reversed but it seem news organizations and stories actually seem to also use contradictory definition. See for example: http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2014/06/economist-explains-10 http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2014/06/ec... versus http://globalnews.ca/news/2650706/canada-to-introduce-pot-legalization-legislation-in-2017/ http://globalnews.ca/news/2650706/canada-to-introduce-pot-le...
    - dumbguy 10y ago
      No, those are the same in both articles. Mulcair's views, are largely irrelevant now.

dang 10y ago

Ok, we put "legalize" in the title above.