The marijuana legalization policy, which passed at the recent Liberal party convention, has been generating a fair amount of media buzz. The strongest arguments in favour of it come, somewhat surprisingly, from
this National Post editorial and
Toronto Sun column, while this Globe
article raises some legitimate questions about the feasibility of legalization.
There are many logistical hurdles to overcome, but I tend to think one of the many alcohol and cigarette distribution systems we use could be adapted to marijuana. Once a mechanism is settled on and border issues with the Americans are worked out, the benefits are obvious.
Those hippies at the
Fraser Institute peg it as a $7 billion cash crop which would generate $2 billion a year in tax revenue. Those
stoners in the Senate like the idea because it would deal a financial blow to organized crime by bringing the economy above-ground. Anyone watching Boardwalk Empire knows what happens when you try to enforce an unenforceable prohibition.
But those are the debate arguments, and the political arguments are a bit more complex. After all, as carbon taxes and the HST have taught us, sound policy doesn’t always make for sound politics.
It’s easy to point to a poll and say Canadians are onside with Liberal members on this issue, but it’s not as simple as that.
