Why Marijuana Should Be Legalized in Canada

3221 Words7 Pages

Introduction
“Marijuana has moved out of the back alleys, and into the open” (Weed - CNN Special Dr Sanjay Gupta).
Marijuana should be legalized in Canada because of its many benefits. It could benefit the government by bringing in revenue from tax dollars, it has many medical benefits to treat many ailments.
History
“Marijuana, weed, flower, bud; call it what you will, but humans have been using cannabis for a millennium” (The Future of Weed: HIGH COUNTRY). In 2737 B.C., the Chinese used cannabis medicinally. It was seen as medication for rheumatism, gout, malaria, and absent-mindedness. It spread from China to India, Africa, and Europe by A.D. 500. This shows we have been consuming marijuana for a very long time. Indians and Muslims both used cannabis recreationally. It was actually the Muslims who introduced hashish to the world (History of Marijuana). Hashish is a potent form of marijuana where they take the resin from the flowers of the plant (Hashish). The trend spread to Persia (Iran), and then to North Africa (History of Marijuana).
It was the Spanish who brought marijuana to America in 1545. Soon enough, it became a major commercial crop like tobacco in 1611. By 1890, marijuana was used in some medicines, and it began to catch on in the 1920’s, the same era of prohibition of alcohol. Hemp began to be one of the largest agricultural crops in the word. This was due to its incredibly robust and durable qualities. It was used for fabric, lighting oil, paper, fiber, dynamite, cellophane, and many more. Most textiles were actually made out of hemp at this time (The Union: The Business Behind Getting High).
Many people in the show business used marijuana recreationally. This is when “Reefer songs” became the rage of the jazz ...

... middle of paper ...

....
Before we legalize marijuana we need to answer some crucial questions such as, how will we regulate amounts, what is the age restrictions, and how should it be taxed?
Wine Model
“Anyone can brew a limited amount of wine in their own home, tax-free, for their own use or to share with friends. Anyone can open a winery too, but there is regulation for safety and quality control. The province regulates wine sales, and is the primary buyer and seller of wine through liquor stores.” (Larson). This is the “wine model” that would be how we should regulate marijuana. This way, people can grow their own marijuana although consumers can also purchase their marijuana at a dispensary for quick, easy, and safe access! When purchased at a store, there should be taxes on the product therefore the government can make revenue and put it back into the medical system.
Conclusion

Open Document