Legalizing marijuana in Canada will benefit millions of people. First and foremost, people will no longer be incarcerated for minor possession charges. This means fewer arrest records, less government spending on prisons and less longterm impact on the careers and lives of those caught with marijuana. Legalization does, however, vary province by province, and come with a host of bureaucratic complications. Are Canadian legalization laws too strict? Here’s a closer look at the problems marijuana legislation, as it exists today, could cause.
Strict Laws Require Bigger Law Enforcement Budgets
Many provinces are planning on toughening up penalties for driving while high.
In Nova Scotia, the fine for being in a car while high ranges from $1,000 to $2,000. This applies to passengers as well as drivers. The proposed law would also include a one-year license suspension. If you’re caught driving while high a second time, you’re looking 30 days in jail, minimum, plus a longer license suspension.
There are a few problems with this sort of a crackdown on driving while high. First off, it will require extra policing, which will be costly. In Ontario, this means an extra $40 million dollars is going towards law enforcement. For many people, one of the benefits of legalized weed is more revenue for social programs. Legalizing a substance should mean less, rather than increased, police spending.
Testing for Driving While High Is Almost Impossible
More importantly, THC, which is the cannabinoid drug tests detect, can stay in your system long after it has stopped being psychoactive. Two days after a single instance of THC ingestion, your blood can test positive for the cannabinoid. With more frequent use, THC can stay in your bloodstream for