According to the recent polls, 38 percent of Canadians use pot solely for recreation, while 12 percent say their pot consumption is only for medical reasons. The number of Canadians who use pot has not increased since legalization, with 22 percent before and 21 percent after.
PARDON is a campaign making its way across the country to raise awareness and collect signatures. Saturday, April 13th it stopped in Winnipeg.
The Campaign was formed by a B.C. cannabis producer and Cannabis Amnesty, a group of lawyers, activists, and entrepreneurs.
The Manitoba government is taking steps to combat the illicit cannabis market with proposed amendments to The Liquor, Gaming, and Cannabis Control Act in order to give more officials the power to crack down.
The proposed amendment would give power to inspectors to stop those in possession of illicit cannabis, and offer police the ability to give a ticket for possession over 30 grams instead of laying a criminal charge, which the province said requires a more complex process.
The fine for these offenses would be determined through regulation. Other proposed changes would make it an offense to be in possession of cannabis that isn’t packaged, stamped and labeled in accordance with federal legislation.
Under the proposed legislation crossing the also border remains a concern. Maier, who studies punishment and prisoners reentering society, said even when records are destroyed, the process for entering other countries is not clear cut.
PARDON spokesperson David Duarte agreed that though the legislation doesn’t go far enough, bill c-93 is still a step in the right direction, and hopes Ottawa passes it before the House of Commons breaks for the summer.
As Saturday afternoon, they've collected close to 7,000 signatures.
After the marijuana legalization, overall, a positive experience, with 85 percent of respondents satisfied with the quality of legal pot. Also, 88 percent said if there’s a pot shortage among legal suppliers, they’ll find another source.