Oh, those comics running the government of Canada! It's as if Bob and Doug McKenzie retired a few hosers in Parliament, brought their toques and earmuffs to the Gouvernement du Canada, and set up shop, eh. But the McKenzie Bros. were trying to be funny. Somehow we get the feeling that the prime minister and Her Majesty's government aren't.
The prime minister of Canada has been in the news lately. And not just for his Twitter war with President Trump. Justin Trudeau announced last week that his government will fully legalize marijuana. Come Oct. 17, smoking dope will be legal in all of Canada's provinces. As per federal law.
The reasoning? This is where the comedy comes in: Justin Trudeau told the papers that he and Parliament have legalized dope to 1. protect young people and 2. weaken organized crime.
Bomp-boom-ba! Try the veal, folks. He'll be here all week.
Is this guy smoking something? Legalizing pot to protect kids seems a lot like pouring sugar on the ground to keep the ants away. But then we read his comments to the public prints, and ... whoa, dude.
For example, he said, "Over the following months and indeed years we will completely replace or almost completely replace the organized crime market on" marijuana sales.
Sure. Just as Las Vegas got rid of organized crime by legalizing gambling there.
"The legislation is transformative," says Canada's justice minister. And, boy, don't you know it is. But maybe not in the way the government in Ottawa believes.
Canada now joins this list of countries that have legalized marijuana for recreational use in all parts of the country:
Uruguay.
Perhaps the Canadian government, and its prime minister who made pot legalization a campaign issue, put too much faith in government regulations. Surely there'll be a law that prohibits those who buy pot from selling it to others, such as minors. But will that law be effective? What limits will government put on percentage of THC in marijuana, and how will that be enforced? Will cops take puffs at traffic stops to test how powerful the dope is? Once dope at 3 percent or 5 percent is carried around in purses and wallets, how tell the difference between that and the powerful black-market stuff sure to follow?
But the big question comes after hearing the prime minister's main argument: That is, a regulated market will strip profits from gangs and "reduce youth consumption."
How?
Our favorite gossip columnist and Irish Bull wrestler for the New York Times--Paul Krugman--once wrote this sentence that appeared on these very pages: "It's not just false, it's almost the opposite of the truth."
For the first time in a long time, we might understand Professor Krugman's point.
This is a bad idea, eh. Just as Colorado continues to provide an example to the rest of this nation when it comes to marijuana laws--an example to beware--Canada might one day provide a national example to the world too.
Since at least 1787, Canadians have been good neighbors. Here's hoping that the self-inflicted damage is minimal.
Editorial on 06/26/2018