Libs don’t have a public safety plan for marijuana legalization

In the six months since Justin Trudeau and the Liberals took office, it has become very clear that they intend to move forward with increased access to marijuana as quickly as possible. Alongside their push for marijuana legalization, they are completely neglecting to put in place proper public safety and treatment options for those addicted to drugs, focusing instead on other measures that centre on harm reduction. Without at least ensuring that the proper support programs are in place, it doesn't make sense to increase the availability of dangerous drugs like marijuana, opioids, and heroin. I recognize that Canadians voted for a Liberal platform that included the legalization of marijuana, but it also included more than 200 other promises. While they focus on legalization, Canadians are still waiting for the promised investments in homecare, youth employment and research. These promises were featured prominently alongside legalization in their platform, but no money was allocated for any of them in their budget. I wholeheartedly believe that Canadians prioritize the health of their family, friends, and our economy above ensuring they have recreational access to dangerous and addictive drugs. While the Liberals have been clear that they will expand access, they have been eerily quiet on how they intend to achieve this without endangering our vulnerable populations, including children and the elderly. Medical researchers have warned that marijuana smoke can cause serious mental ailments, especially in youth under 25; this in addition to the documented physical harms that smoking causes. In fact, some studies have found that regular use during adolescence doubles the risk of cognitive impairment, dropping out of school, and psychosis in adulthood. Proponents of legalization often point to examples from Colorado, which legalized marijuana in 2014. Since that time, the state has seen a 26 per cent increase in the number of 12 to 17 year olds using marijuana and have reported numerous cases of children being rushed to poison control centres after consuming marijuana-laced sweets; all this despite the fact that their legislation prohibits the sale of marijuana to persons under 21. To put this in perspective, even though possession is still illegal, 5,000 youth in Ontario ended up in the hospital after using marijuana between 2006 and 2014. Another important consideration that appears to have been neglected by the Liberals is dealing with motorists who choose to drive or operate heavy machinery under the influence of marijuana. The risk of car crashes doubles for drivers who have smoked marijuana. This is of particular interest when you consider that car accidents are the leading cause of death among 15 to 20 year olds and that 17 per cent of high school aged drivers report having driven within an hour of using marijuana. The numbers clearly tell us that legalization has the potential to disproportionately affect young Canadians. The Liberals have offered no plan on how to mitigate negative ramifications on international trade. While Colorado has legalized marijuana, it remains illegal at the federal level in the United States. When you create a situation where your laws are out of step with those of your closest trading partner, you only set the stage for conflict. This has the potential to affect the $1.4-million per minute in cross border trading that takes place between Canada and the U.S., putting the jobs of more than three million Canadians at risk. Canadians and their families rely on these jobs to put food on their table and clothes on their backs. In stark contrast to the Liberal strategy of making drugs more accessible, I was proud to be a part of the previous Conservative government which invested $500-million per year in our anti-drug strategy. This strategy included funding for treatment programs to help Canadians address drug abuse, which statistics show was working. Marijuana use by Canadian youth age 15-24 in 2012 dropped 43 per cent from 2004 levels. As the Liberal government moves forward with legalizing recreational access, I will continue to stand up for stringent safeguards to protect our youth and ensure that proper enforcement mechanisms are in place for those who profit from selling drugs to kids. Conservative MP Colin Carrie, who represents Oshawa, Ont., is his party's health critic. The Hill Times

Libs don’t have a public safety plan for marijuana legalization

In stark contrast to the Liberal strategy of making drugs more accessible, I was proud to be a part of the previous Conservative government which invested $500-million per year in our anti-drug strategy.

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Libs don’t have a public safety plan for marijuana legalization

In stark contrast to the Liberal strategy of making drugs more accessible, I was proud to be a part of the previous Conservative government which invested $500-million per year in our anti-drug strategy.

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