The federal government tabled legislation last week to legalize marijuana by July 1 of next year, but they have given few clues on how this will be accomplished.
The Trudeau government is leaving all of the work to the provinces and municipalities. Worse still, they have not revealed enough details to even allow provincial and local governments to get started.
Two of the primary reasons cited by supporters are that legalization will generate a boon of tax revenue and free up extra cash in the justice system, since there will no longer be a need to prosecute simple possession. So far, it appears neither of these reasons are coming to fruition.
The proposed legislation only includes a rough framework. There is no information about how it will be taxed or how tax revenue will be shared. We don’t know if GST will be applied or if there will be a new tax, or whether provincial taxes will be allowed. Distribution will be up to the individual provinces. It may be that the province will need to do most of the legwork related to legalization, but not necessarily get the most of the taxes. When it comes to taxes, we still don’t know.
This legislation introduces some new problems for the justice system. Although citizens will be able to grow their own plants, these plants can’t be taller than one metre and you can’t have more than four. You also won’t be able to possess more than 30 grams in public. These restrictions will need to be enforced.
There is also the problem of impaired driving. While it has always been illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana, easier access will lead to an increase of those driving impaired. Currently, there isn’t a great way to determine marijuana intoxication and there are no approved roadside devices to test impairment, like there is for alcohol. The increased costs for roadside detection are yet to be determined.
Canadians should also expect to see associated costs to the health system. Breathing in smoke on a regular basis affects one’s lungs. According to Health Canada, marijuana has been shown to increase the risk of developing mental illnesses in some people. These are costs that taxpayers will be responsible for.
One thing that is clear, is that this legislation is rushed. Local governments aren’t ready for this transition.
“The speed at which government intends to move ahead puts municipalities at risk in preventing adverse impacts in our communities,” Morinville Mayor and chair of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association Lisa Holmes said in a statement.
Both St. Albert MP Michael Cooper and St. Albert Mayor Nolan Crouse are concerned the government is simply downloading the responsibilities of regulation to provinces and municipalities without providing financial support. From the legislation introduced so far, this is the case.
Legalizing marijuana is no small decision. It’s the type of decision that needs a lot of planning and structure, but the Liberals haven’t done that. They seem content to simply wave a magic wand and hope it all works out. This strategy is shortsighted and simply creates new problems without solutions. As the old adage says: “failing to plan is planning to fail.”
