Marijuana reform supporters in Canada and around the world were absolutely ecstatic when Justin Trudeau won in Canada’s last election. Trudeau campaigned on a pro-marijuana legalization platform, and stated multiple times that he would start working on marijuana legalization as soon as he took office as Prime Minister of Canada. The desire to legalize marijuana would violate some international treaties, which Justin Trudeau was made aware of this last week (although I’m sure he already knew that). Per CBC News:
The Liberal government will have to do substantial work on the international stage before it can follow through on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s promise to legalize marijuana, new documents suggest.
That work will have to include figuring out how Canada would comply with three international treaties to which the country is a party, all of which criminalize the possession and production of marijuana.
Trudeau’s plan to legalize, regulate and restrict access to marijuana is already proving a complicated and controversial undertaking on the domestic front, in part because it requires working with the provinces.
Uruguay has already legalized marijuana, and as far as I know, there hasn’t been any significant backlash from the international community. There have been words said by marijuana opponents in the international community, but there are always going to be people that don’t like what another country is doing, marijuana or otherwise. In this case, I don’t think Canada should let international treaties get in the way of righting the wrong that is marijuana prohibition. Trudeau will forge ahead, and Canada will be more than OK as a result. ”It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela
