On October 17, 2018, Canada became the second country in the world, behind Uruguay, to federally legalize the consumption of cannabis, ending nearly a century of prohibition. But six weeks later, many cannabis users are wondering what91裸聊视频檚 different, if anything.
91裸聊视频淣othing91裸聊视频檚 really changed91裸聊视频攊t91裸聊视频檚 all the same, and I hate the stigma (that91裸聊视频檚 still attached to smoking cannabis),91裸聊视频 said Connie Sanders. Black Press Media has changed this name to protect the identity of her children.
In 1908, Canada enacted the Opium Act, which saw the criminalization of morphine, opium, and cocaine use. And amidst mindsets that believed in such things as reefer madness and the marijuana menace, cannabis was added to the Confidential Restricted List of the Narcotics Drug Act Amendment Bill in 1923.
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And there it stayed until the Liberal Party enacted the Cannabis Act in June, 2018. But legalizing cannabis usage has been on the minds of Canadians for decades.
Since the late 1990s, public opinion polls have continued to show more and more agreement with the statement, 91裸聊视频楽moking marijuana should not be a criminal offense.91裸聊视频 In 2001, medical marijuana was legalized, and by June 2017, seven out of 10 Canadians were in favour of legalization. And perhaps most recently, a survey conducted in January of 2018 showed at least 23 per cent of Canadians admitted to using cannabis within the previous 12 months.
Yet now that smoking a joint is as legal as smoking a cigarette, or drinking a glass of wine, Sanders91裸聊视频攚ho91裸聊视频檚 married with two children91裸聊视频攕ays she91裸聊视频檚 not noticing much acceptance, which she says is strange, considering how many years it91裸聊视频檚 been somewhat culturally acceptable.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 still lots of mystery behind (marijuana),91裸聊视频 said Dr. Steven Esau, manager of the Fraser Region Youth Addiction Centre.
91裸聊视频淭he lack of knowledge of what91裸聊视频檚 behind cannabis and what it does to the human body 91裸聊视频 (may be part of) people91裸聊视频檚 hesitancy in accepting (it). We don91裸聊视频檛 totally know its magnitude of affect on the development of the brain.91裸聊视频
But affect the brain it does, as Esau continued on to explain that cannabis is fat-soluble, which allows it to cross the blood-brain barrier.
91裸聊视频淎nd the marijuana we have now is different than what they had in the 91裸聊视频70s. It91裸聊视频檚 far more potent. So maybe not knowing the full grasp of what it could do to a developing brain (worries people).91裸聊视频
That may explain why Sanders had a mom pick up her child after a play date, 91裸聊视频渁nd we haven91裸聊视频檛 seen that kid since,91裸聊视频 she said sadly as she watched her youngest play in the living room.
It wasn91裸聊视频檛 that she had been smoking in front of the children, rather the scent of cannabis was present in her home, but, she says, the smell tends to linger.
91裸聊视频淚 live in the cannabis world: I eat it, smoke it, and rub it on myself 91裸聊视频 (almost) 24 hours a day. I smell like it? I always smell like it, so they can91裸聊视频檛 (judge based just) on that. People (seem to) get offended by its strong smell91裸聊视频攅ven if it hasn91裸聊视频檛 been smoked.91裸聊视频
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It91裸聊视频檚 like the disdain for marijuana use has been ingrained in our culture and everyone has an opinion on those who use it.
91裸聊视频淏ut an opinion is yours, and free to have, but it91裸聊视频檚 not part of the law,91裸聊视频 said RCMP spokesperson, Mike Rail.
Which is why the Royal Canadian Mounted Police began training in regards to dealing with cannabis prior to legislation being passed this October.
The point is no longer whether or not you agree with the consumption of cannabis, says Rail, it91裸聊视频檚 now about the application and enforcement of our country91裸聊视频檚 laws, which no longer bans cannabis use for any reason.
91裸聊视频滱nd as the laws change, society (needs to) change and (we) have to do what (we) can to (deal with those changes) 91裸聊视频 but there are going to be growing pains in any (situation) like this.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not a matter of just flipping a switch, it91裸聊视频檚 the way we91裸聊视频檙e going as a society,91裸聊视频 continued Rail. 91裸聊视频淵ou learn to work within that society, and it91裸聊视频檚 new, but you91裸聊视频檒l learn.91裸聊视频
And that91裸聊视频檚 not just for police officers, but members of the public in general: 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e all the same, so now we evolve (to culturally accept) cannabis,91裸聊视频 added the seasoned officer.
91裸聊视频淲e (also) need to research it,91裸聊视频 said Esau. People need to 91裸聊视频渞eally engage in the research to see what the long-term effects are, and (whether legalization) was a good move or not. The more research we do, the more knowledge that could be transferred to the public91裸聊视频 to possibly assuage the lingering issues they have with the former narcotic.
But Sanders says she isn91裸聊视频檛 so sure that it91裸聊视频檚 that simple for everybody.
91裸聊视频淚 have to say that there91裸聊视频檚 still an underground lifestyle (surrounding cannabis use). I know so many moms who smoke, who get together in groups and smoke while watching their kids 91裸聊视频 but guaranteed I91裸聊视频檝e lost friends because I91裸聊视频檓 so open about my (cannabis usage).91裸聊视频
And while Sanders says she tries her 91裸聊视频渂est to be very honest from the beginning91裸聊视频 of any new relationship, especially one involving her children, she91裸聊视频檚 still meeting resistance to her usage of marijuana.
91裸聊视频淪o what91裸聊视频檚 different, really? Not much except it gives me more power in my chest so if I91裸聊视频檓 somewhere and I91裸聊视频檓 not feeling well, now I can (legally) say, 91裸聊视频業91裸聊视频檓 going to smoke a joint,91裸聊视频 but I know people will still stare.91裸聊视频
And stare they do. Sanders says she does her best to obey all public smoking laws, yet still bears witness to mothers pulling their children down sidewalks away from her, or receives snide comments from people while in public spaces.
91裸聊视频淲hy can91裸聊视频檛 it be accepted like going to have a drink of wine?91裸聊视频 Sanders asked rhetorically. 91裸聊视频淧ersonally, I91裸聊视频檇 much rather smoke than drink. Why can91裸聊视频檛 we be like Amsterdam where it91裸聊视频檚 just so accepted and normal with (marijuana) plants growing in public gardens.91裸聊视频