It's only fair to give credit where credit is due. While I have been critical of many of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's policies and actions since his election in November 2015, there is one area where I am impressed to see him standing firm: the legalization movement.
I will not debate the pros and cons of the legalization movement in this column, as I feel such a discussion would be too superficial to accurately depict the nuances in opinion across the spectrum. It is best left for a designated column all its own.
Trudeau has made, in my humble opinion, several missteps since he took office, but I admire his adherence to this platform promise. Following several missteps since the election a hardline stance on this contentious issue is a breath of fresh air.
As I suspected, several groups have approached the prime minister requesting an extension of his July 1, 2018 date, claiming there has been inadequate preparation time. At this point it all sounds like noise. When they knew this legislation was coming for more than two and a half years, if they are ill prepared they have only themselves to blame.
One such group grumbling about their own lack of foresight is, shockingly, the Canadian Association of the Chiefs of Police. They claim it will be “impossible” to have adequate measures in place to properly regulate following the ratification of the new law. I'll admit I'm skeptical.
Another group trying to get the prime minister to slow down and wait is comprised of our own premiers. Following their annual summer meeting the heads of our provincially-elected representatives requested more clarity or an extension on the deadline to allow “more time” to prepare. More needless filibustering. They've had plenty of time to lay the necessary groundwork.
American states have gone through legalization, such as Colorado and Washington. They are shining examples of legislative speed and efficiency. In Colorado's case, the 64th amendment to the state's constitution passed its initiative ballot on Nov. 6, 2012, with cannabis available for sale on Jan. 1, 2014. Essentially, Colorado managed to pull it off 18 months sooner than the Canadian provinces were allotted, and managed to do so successfully.
Reefer Madness was a propaganda film released in the 1930s, and it's high time (no pun intended) that we put such groundless misgivings out to pasture. Growth and progress are important and I applaud Canada's prime minister for sticking to his guns and telling the nay-sayers “no.”
Darlana Robertson is a twentysomething writer from Calgary and a former Central Alberta resident.
