We were supposed to be celebrating Canada Day by enjoying the perks of legalized cannabis.
Our prime minister, referred to by such nicknames as “The Sequel,” “Sunny Ways 2” and “The Drama King,” had decreed it. But Canada Day came and went, it’s still illegal to possess less than 30 grams of cannabis, and now the drug won’t be legal in Canada until Oct. 17.
If I were one who enjoyed an occasional toke, I might be upset. And if I was looking forward to spending my 40th birthday by enjoying some legalized marijuana, I might be really upset.
For you see, my 40th birthday will be Oct. 16. It means that I will have to wait a full year to legally use cannabis in its many forms on my birthday.
Couldn’t the government have decreed the legalization date as Oct. 15?
That’s what I would have been asking if I was actually excited for legalization. I am not.
This is not a call for protests against legalization. I think we have better things to do than to chant and carry signs, voicing our displeasure with the government. Nor is it a plea for the government to reverse its decision.
Cannabis will be legalized on Oct. 17. Get over it. Find something new to complain about. After all, the Trudeau Liberals have given us lots of reasons to be frustrated with the current direction of the government besides the plan to legalize marijuana.
And I won’t be one of those enjoying cannabis. Not just because it falls the day after my birthday.
I’m sure some people will think of me as a square, but I have never smoked marijuana. Never felt the need to. Never had a pot brownie or anything like that, at least not to my knowledge.
I’ve never had a cigarette for that matter, either. Cuban cigar? Well, that’s a different story.
So I’m really not upset that the date for legalization falls the day after I turn 40. It wouldn’t have changed anything if it happened the day before I turned 40.
I’m sure that once cannabis is legal, I’ll try it at some point. I might try it more than once. Maybe I’ll have that pot brownie. But it’s not going to be something I’ll indulge in on a regular or even occasional basis.
I’ve said before that I fully support medicinal marijuana. There are properties in marijuana that carry health benefits. But there’s a big difference between medicinal marijuana and the products that will be legal on Oct. 17.
I’ve also argued for the decriminalization of marijuana as opposed to the full-blown legalization. Treat marijuana possession like a speeding ticket, rather than a criminal charge.
When the federal government announced its plans last year to fully legalize marijuana, I said that other countries in the world would be paying close attention to Canada, and how we handle this situation. We’re the second country in the world to legalize marijuana. We won’t be the last.
At times, Canada has given other nations the blueprint on what not to do when it comes to legalization.
The plan was to have it legalized by July 1 of this year. That didn’t happen. Instead, it was pushed back to Oct. 17. MPs and senators have squabbled over the issue. And there are many who will tell you that Oct. 17 is still too soon, that municipalities, law enforcement agencies, employers, landlords and many others are still scrambling to be ready for that date, which is now just three months away.
We weren’t going to be ready for July 1. In many cases, we won’t be ready for Oct. 17.
Of course, there are some who think that Oct. 17 is too far away. But they aren’t the ones who have to worry about the challenges associated with legalization.
In Estevan, we now know who the retailer will be. By all accounts, they’re going about their business the right way. We know where they could be located, where they won’t be located, and some of the restrictions they will face.
We also know that, for the time being, they will be the only vendor in the city.
But I don’t expect to be celebrating the legalization of cannabis (and a belated 40th birthday gift) on Oct. 17 by enjoying a product that will become legal that day. If you choose to celebrate, please do so in a safe and responsible fashion.
I’ll stick to my Cuban cigars.
