On October 17, 2018, Canada became the second country in the world, behind Uruguay, to federally legalize the consumption of cannabis, ending nearly a century of prohibition. But six weeks later, many cannabis users are wondering what鈥檚 different, if anything.
鈥淣othing鈥檚 really changed鈥攊t鈥檚 all the same, and I hate the stigma (that鈥檚 still attached to smoking cannabis),鈥� said Connie Sanders. Black Press Media has changed this name to protect the identity of her children.
In 1908, Canada enacted the Opium Act, which saw the criminalization of morphine, opium, and cocaine use. And amidst mindsets that believed in such things as reefer madness and the marijuana menace, cannabis was added to the Confidential Restricted List of the Narcotics Drug Act Amendment Bill in 1923.
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And there it stayed until the Liberal Party enacted the Cannabis Act in June, 2018. But legalizing cannabis usage has been on the minds of Canadians for decades.
Since the late 1990s, public opinion polls have continued to show more and more agreement with the statement, 鈥楽moking marijuana should not be a criminal offense.鈥� In 2001, medical marijuana was legalized, and by June 2017, seven out of 10 Canadians were in favour of legalization. And perhaps most recently, a survey conducted in January of 2018 showed at least 23 per cent of Canadians admitted to using cannabis within the previous 12 months.
Yet now that smoking a joint is as legal as smoking a cigarette, or drinking a glass of wine, Sanders鈥攚ho鈥檚 married with two children鈥攕ays she鈥檚 not noticing much acceptance, which she says is strange, considering how many years it鈥檚 been somewhat culturally acceptable.
鈥淭here鈥檚 still lots of mystery behind (marijuana),鈥� said Dr. Steven Esau, manager of the Fraser Region Youth Addiction Centre.
鈥淭he lack of knowledge of what鈥檚 behind cannabis and what it does to the human body 鈥� (may be part of) people鈥檚 hesitancy in accepting (it). We don鈥檛 totally know its magnitude of affect on the development of the brain.鈥�
But affect the brain it does, as Esau continued on to explain that cannabis is fat-soluble, which allows it to cross the blood-brain barrier.
鈥淎nd the marijuana we have now is different than what they had in the 鈥�70s. It鈥檚 far more potent. So maybe not knowing the full grasp of what it could do to a developing brain (worries people).鈥�
That may explain why Sanders had a mom pick up her child after a play date, 鈥渁nd we haven鈥檛 seen that kid since,鈥� she said sadly as she watched her youngest play in the living room.
It wasn鈥檛 that she had been smoking in front of the children, rather the scent of cannabis was present in her home, but, she says, the smell tends to linger.
鈥淚 live in the cannabis world: I eat it, smoke it, and rub it on myself 鈥� (almost) 24 hours a day. I smell like it? I always smell like it, so they can鈥檛 (judge based just) on that. People (seem to) get offended by its strong smell鈥攅ven if it hasn鈥檛 been smoked.鈥�
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It鈥檚 like the disdain for marijuana use has been ingrained in our culture and everyone has an opinion on those who use it.
鈥淏ut an opinion is yours, and free to have, but it鈥檚 not part of the law,鈥� said RCMP spokesperson, Mike Rail.
Which is why the Royal Canadian Mounted Police began training in regards to dealing with cannabis prior to legislation being passed this October.
The point is no longer whether or not you agree with the consumption of cannabis, says Rail, it鈥檚 now about the application and enforcement of our country鈥檚 laws, which no longer bans cannabis use for any reason.
鈥滱nd as the laws change, society (needs to) change and (we) have to do what (we) can to (deal with those changes) 鈥� but there are going to be growing pains in any (situation) like this.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not a matter of just flipping a switch, it鈥檚 the way we鈥檙e going as a society,鈥� continued Rail. 鈥淵ou learn to work within that society, and it鈥檚 new, but you鈥檒l learn.鈥�
And that鈥檚 not just for police officers, but members of the public in general: 鈥淲e鈥檙e all the same, so now we evolve (to culturally accept) cannabis,鈥� added the seasoned officer.
鈥淲e (also) need to research it,鈥� said Esau. People need to 鈥渞eally engage in the research to see what the long-term effects are, and (whether legalization) was a good move or not. The more research we do, the more knowledge that could be transferred to the public鈥� to possibly assuage the lingering issues they have with the former narcotic.
But Sanders says she isn鈥檛 so sure that it鈥檚 that simple for everybody.
鈥淚 have to say that there鈥檚 still an underground lifestyle (surrounding cannabis use). I know so many moms who smoke, who get together in groups and smoke while watching their kids 鈥� but guaranteed I鈥檝e lost friends because I鈥檓 so open about my (cannabis usage).鈥�
And while Sanders says she tries her 鈥渂est to be very honest from the beginning鈥� of any new relationship, especially one involving her children, she鈥檚 still meeting resistance to her usage of marijuana.
鈥淪o what鈥檚 different, really? Not much except it gives me more power in my chest so if I鈥檓 somewhere and I鈥檓 not feeling well, now I can (legally) say, 鈥業鈥檓 going to smoke a joint,鈥� but I know people will still stare.鈥�
And stare they do. Sanders says she does her best to obey all public smoking laws, yet still bears witness to mothers pulling their children down sidewalks away from her, or receives snide comments from people while in public spaces.
鈥淲hy can鈥檛 it be accepted like going to have a drink of wine?鈥� Sanders asked rhetorically. 鈥淧ersonally, I鈥檇 much rather smoke than drink. Why can鈥檛 we be like Amsterdam where it鈥檚 just so accepted and normal with (marijuana) plants growing in public gardens.鈥�
