marijuana, it is clear that it has not succeeded, and the
olescence—before the brain is finished developing—and
cost of this unsuccessful policy has been astronomical in
when the dosage of active chemicals is high. While there is
both the financial sense and in the legal pressure it puts
some debate on exactly how much marijuana use is sole-
on citizens that choose to use marijuana.
ly responsible for these observed negative consequences
In 2013 alone, the cost of marijuana prohibition was
and how much can be attributed to environment, genet-
estimated at $500 million for enforcement alone—that
ics and family situation, there is substantial evidence that
comprises funds spent on police, lab work, court dates
supports the idea that young people should not use mar-
and attorneys. It leaves out the considerable cost of hous-
ijuana before their brain finishes developing.
ing citizens who received prison sentences related to
That said, Canadian teens have the highest rate of mar-
marijuana, and the significant cost to individuals and so-
ijuana use in the developed world. In 2014 the rate of
ciety associated with severely lowered employment and
marijuana use among Canadian teens was 28 per cent,
earning opportunities resulting from criminal records.
and between five and 10 per cent were using daily. Once
This massive expenditure was centred on 75,000 Cana-
again, prohibition has failed to control or discourage the
dians who were arrested and tried for marijuana-related
use of marijuana.
crimes in that same year. Of that 75,000, almost 59,000 were convicted for possession for personal use.
The Trudeau government has made this pervasive marijuana use among young people a central issue in their
While marijuana has some associated health risks and,
campaign. There are two major facets of its campaign in-
contrary to many claims by advocates for legalization,
tended to address use of marijuana by Canadian youth.
some risks of addiction, it is no more dangerous or addic-
One is the continued criminalization of persons who sell
tive than substances like tobacco and alcohol, which are
marijuana to youth or purchase it on behalf of youth. The
legal to possess and use in Canada. In fact, the only group
second has to do with the way marijuana will be regu-
most people would consider to be at a level of consider-
lated, standardized and packaged once it becomes legal.
able risk for long-term harm from marijuana use in Canada is youth, which in this instance means those under the age of 25. The developing brain is complicated and more vulnerable to long-term harm from chemical interferences. Marijuana use affects multiple areas of the brain, including the hippocampus (responsible for learning and memory), the cerebellum (responsible for balance and coordination), and the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making). It has been observed having negative effects on each of them when used extensively. The negative
effects
have
been shown to be exacerbated when that excessive use begins in ad-
16 | STIGMA MAGAZINE
HOW ARE THINGS CHANGING Legalization could be said to have three major facets: taxation, regulation and standardization. These three facets will address the symptoms of the failing system of prohibition. Taxation of legal marijuana is intended to address the enormous costs associated with criminalization. The $500 million enforcement price tag doesn’t evaporate, as unregulated growing, processing, import, export and sale of marijuana will remain criminal and will need to be investigated by law enforcement and tried in court. Selling or providing marijuana to minors will also remain a criminal offense, as will driving while intoxicated. The drafting and passing of laws, establishing a system to monitor legal stores, and checking that standardized doses are being followed will all suck up time and money when they are brought in. However, on the other side of this equation is the income generated from taxable marijuana. It is difficult to estimate how much money Canada will make from taxing legal marijuana, but figures from