The legalised pot

Iqbal Singh sidhu

Canada will, on October 17, become the first Group of Seven (G7) member and the second country in the world, after Uruguay, to formally legalise cannabis (for recreational use). It will be a watershed moment for the country.

Drugs are a taboo in any society and are often on the list of matters left undiscussed on public forums. There is a pungency attached to the issue, so much so that the issue is only evoked with reference to degeneracy that has crept into the society or it is discussed in a lewd and ostracised context.  

But Canada, a liberal, democratic and open society, sees the issue of drug and its abuse in a more sympathetic light. Cannabis legalisation, for example, was one of the foremost issues in the Federal Election of 2015 and both Left-leaning parties — New Democratic Party and the Liberals — had raised it. The Liberals formed the government and they were under pressure to legalise marijuana. It has been three years since the Liberals came into power and they have finally made good on their word. 

There is enthusiasm among those who have used the drug before and who will now be able to use it without any fear. “I had to buy it from shady people and there was a threat of being caught by the police. Now, I will be able to smoke in peace and hopefully, the product would be better as it will be regulated by the government,” said a 28-year-old Punjabi man from Brampton.  

The NDP is still aligned to the Liberals and their platform not only consisted of legalising marijuana but a lot more — with government oversight. All in all, it wants to “decriminalise” drugs since the drug abuse is a disease, more than a crime. A popular example that is often cited is of Portugal which decriminalised drugs, a move which experts say has led to a significant decline in drug-related crimes.

But, there is opposition to the idea as well. Opening the floodgates for all possible kinds of intoxicants to enter local communities is a haunting proposition, though the NDP might argue on it. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh propounds the idea on whatever platform he is being given the chance. He has not been able to raise the issue in Parliament as he does not have a seat in the House of Commons even after more than one year of being elected  leader of a federal party. Jagmeet, while running for the NDP leadership, took a principled stand on the issue and he has maintained it to this day.  

Drug-related problems are more common among the vulnerable and they usually end up suffering at both ends — effects of drug abuse and government crackdown. Belonging to a visible minority makes one more susceptible to the wrath of law. For example, according to the John Howard Society of Canada, a crime prevention and redressal advocacy and research group, Blacks are 50 per cent more likely to be arrested than Whites even in a multi-ethnic city such as Toronto. 

Visible minorities always seem to get the shorter end of the stick and there are reasonable grievances that need addressing. Baljinder (name changed), 25, from Surrey, has a criminal record for possessing cannabis, a soon-to-be-legalised drug, and yet, it will not have any impact on his record. He will face the same problems that he faces today in finding jobs, travelling domestically and internationally, and even in finding an apartment.

According to a report by a Canadian TV channel, about one in every three incidents of gang violence in Greater Vancouver involves Indo-Canadian gangs. This phenomenon of violence and gangland war-waging has not quieted down with time as would be expected in an immigrant community with a positive change in socio-economic position; rather, it has become acute. Well, drugs might have something to do with it.