Run-Down: What Legalization Means for You
Although recreational cannabis use is legal now, you still aren’t allowed to smoke on school grounds
Canada is the second country after Uruguay to legalize marijuana for both medical and recreational use. Medicinal marijuana was legalized in Canada in 2001, but now, thanks to the 2018 Cannabis Act, every adult citizen here can take part in purchasing the green leaf.
Gabriel Bélanger, a professor for Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Cannabis Professional Series and the operations manager at Benchmark Botanicals, says that legalization is “a great step forward,” but adds that “there is still a lot to be done.”
“The current regulation is still imperfect,” says Bélanger. “For example, concentrates and edibles are still illegal. The regulations in different provinces are very different and it can be really confusing. Even if cannabis is legal, many things are still illegal.”
Steven Sun, a KPU student enrolled in KPU’s Cannabis Professional Series, reminds students that they shouldn’t use the substance before coming to class because he doubts that they “will be able to focus or study due to the psychoactive ingredients in marijuana, the main one being THC.”
By contrast, Cannabidiol or “CBD”—another naturally occurring chemical in cannabis—should be fine for consumption before class.
“CBD is a non-psychoactive component of marijuana, and students could potentially benefit from taking it if they are suffering from symptoms such as stress and physical pain,” he says. “CBD comes in many forms, capsules being the easiest to consume.”
As per KPU’s recent smoking policy, using marijuana on school grounds, just like smoking cigarettes, will not be permitted. Off campus, students may smoke marijuana wherever smoking cigarettes is allowed. There are also lounges around Metro Vancouver which allow you to smoke for a few dollars per hour in a facility with munchies available for purchase.
The government of Canada will be taxing marijuana at $1 per gram, meaning that buying cannabis legally will be much more expensive than buying it from non-governmental vendors. The taxes collected from marijuana will benefit the Canadian economy, though will not likely obliterate the black market any time soon.
Landlords have less power over tenants who use cannabis under the new act. Tenants may not be evicted due to marijuana consumption, as consumption on your property—just like cigarettes—is legal. Students should always be aware of their rights and legalities before consuming marijuana, no matter the circumstance.
In terms of how the government will be approaching legalization, it will still be treated as an intoxicating substance, and users will not be permitted to drive or operate machinery while under its influence. It is legal to carry up to one ounce, or 28.35 grams, of cannabis in B.C. Still, it’s important to know that possessing, growing, or transporting more than the legal amount could get you fined or land you up to 14 years in prison.
Whether you’re getting ready to smoke up for the first time or you’re a seasoned stoner, don’t drive high, go slow and start low, and stay safe out there.
