Drug law

Christine Chong

1. Provide a timeline for the laws on Marijuana in Canada

1990s: The seriously ill and dying begin fighting for a legal exemption to the criminal law, demanding the
right to obtain medicinal pain relief through marijuana without fear of prosecution
1923: Cannabis is added to the Schedule of the Opium and Narcotic Control Act
1976: The Netherlands effectively decriminalizes marijuana
1977: Then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau tells a group of students: If you have a joint and youre
smoking it for your private pleasure, you shouldn't be hassled.
1999: Two Canadian patients get the federal OK to smoke pot
2000: Court rules Canadians have the constitutional right to use cannabis as a medicine
2001: Health Canada Introduces Marijuana Medical Access Regulations, and Canada became the
second country in the world with a government-run cannabis health program. Regulations create an
exemption to the criminal law allowing approved patients to possess and grow their own cannabis, as well
as gardeners to grow pot for approved clients
2002-2004: Jean Chretiens Liberal government introduces a bill that would have decriminalized the
possession for personal use of small amounts of cannabis. The bill looked likely to pass into law, but it
died when Parliament prorogued
2011: Ontario legitimately sick people are not able to access medical marijuana through appropriate
means and must resort to compassion clubs or the street corner, risking arrest and criminal charges
2011: Government of Canada announces it is considering improvements to the Marijuana Medical Access
Regulations program to reduce the risk of abuse and exploitation by criminal elements
2012: Ballot measures in Colorado and Washington legalize recreational use of small amounts of
marijuana
2013: New regulations change the Canadian medical merijuana access rules, shifting to license
commercial growers for supply and away from homegrown. Some 37,800 people authorized to possess
marijuana under the Federal program, up from fewer than 100 in 2001
2014: Patients and producers authorized under the old regulations required to destroy stocks of pot and
cannabis seeds, although Federal Court has granted temporary injunction allowing continued use of
home-grown medical marijuana until legal arguments can be heard

Sources: http://metronews.ca/news/canada/1239483/a-timeline-of-marijuana-laws-in-canada/ http://

www.vancouversun.com/health/dates+evolution+Canadian+attitudes+laws+regarding+marijuana/
10469753/story.html http://torontohemp.com/pages/canadian-drug-laws
2. What is Bill C-10
On September 20, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson tabled Bill C-10, an omnibus bill titled Safe Streets and
communities acct. Which combined amendments from nine separate bills that had failed to pass in
previous sessions of parliament.

Many people opposed the bill as some changes caused much controversy for the public. Longer jail time
is a dangerous route that is unsupported by the social science evidence and has already failed in other
countries. Research shows that putting an individual in jail for longer will actually increase the likelihood of
re-offending. What the bill will do is needlessly increase the number of people in prison, skyrocketing
costs and imposing unjust, unwise and unconstitutional punishments.
Sources: http://ccla.org/omnibus-crime-bill-c-10/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Safe_Streets_and_Communities_Act http://www.parl.gc.ca/LegisInfo/BillDetails.aspx?billId=5120829
3. Who is the self proclaimed Prince of Pot? Describe his journey over the last 10 years. Has his
journey been successful or not?
Marc Emery is a Canadian marijuana activist who sold marijuana seeds in Canada. He ended up in
federal prison in the United States. The involvement of the United States government is odd enough,
since Emerys actions all took place in Canada. As early as 1994, Emery had been selling marijuana
seeds from his Vancouver shop, eventually by mail-order. Over the next decade of so, Emery faced a
number of legal issues related to seeing the seeds. He paid fines, sent a few nights in jail and was even
forced to move his business. His journey has had bumps along the way, however, he had been released
in 2014, moving back to Vancouver to continue his journey to decriminalize marijuana.
Source: https://suzyseeds.com/blog/a-call-to-end-marijuana-prohibition http://www.straight.com/news/
666691/marc-emery-details-plans-end-marijuana-prohibition-justin-trudeau-and-liberals http://www.cbc.ca/
news/canada/british-columbia/marc-emery-b-c-s-prince-of-pot-returns-to-vancouver-1.2738700
4. Outline the Drug Laws in Canada as they stand today
- Federal Alcohol Regulations
The federal government has authority over the importing and exporting of alcohol, alcohol-related
excise taxes and broadcast advertising. Each province also has a role in regulating the control and
sale of alcohol; they also control alcohol marketing and advertising.
- Tobacco Legislation
Some provinces have enacted workplace smoking legislation and most prohibit sales of tobacco to
young people.
- Federal Drug Law
The most important federal statute dealing with illicit drugs is the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
(CDSA), which was proclaimed into force in May of 1997. There are six common offences under it:
possession, trafficking, cultivation, importing or exporting and "prescription shopping" (obtaining
multiple prescriptions by visiting several doctors).
- A Missed Opportunity: The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
- The CDSA and Syringe Exchange
- Food and Drugs Act
- Criminal Code
Sources: http://www.cfdp.ca/drug.htm http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/SEN/Committee/362/ille/rep/repnov98-e.htm#4. The Law Regarding Licit and Illicit Drugs in Canada http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/
Canadian_Criminal_Law/Offences/Drug_Offences/Print_version
5. Predict how Canadas Drug Laws should change under Canadian Law
Canada will soon decriminalize light drugs such as marijuana for the sole purpose of taxes. As seen from
Marc Emery, he had paid over $600,000 in taxes from his sales of marijuana seeds. If marijuana becomes
legal, shops who run a proper business would need to report their sales thus resulting in more taxes for
the government.