It was just over a year ago that the young Millennial-favourite politician, Justin Trudeau, became Canada’s 23rd Prime Minister with a campaign full of big promises and ambition to take Canada in a radically different direct than its previous tenure under Stephen Harper.
One of the largest, and quite popular, promises was the complete legalization of marijuana. Not to simply decriminalize it, as his political adversary Thomas Mulclair promised, but to completely strike it from the criminal code of Canada. The position garnished great enthusiasm and support from young and old voters. And the Liberals made it a cornerstone of their election platform.
What difference a year makes…?
With a year passed what has changed? Not that much. The PMO has been more than busy juggling the files of gender equality in the work place, immigrating 30,000 Syrain refugees, a cultural / humanitarian crisis amongst the country’s northern indigenous population, and numerous international trade deals that will impact the country’s economy for decades to come.
As per the Liberal platform, “We will create a federal/provincial/territorial task force, and with input from experts in public health, substance abuse, and law enforcement, will design a new system of strict marijuana sales and distribution, with appropriate federal and provincial excise taxes applied.”
In a measure toward this effort, Trudeau has enlisted a task force led by Anne McLennan and a panel of experts who are combing the issues of pharma regulation, safe distribution, and the taxation of marijuana. The report, due November 30th of this year, has been advertised as the spring board of direction for initiating Federal legislation in the spring of 2017. Stay tuned!