The use of marijuana is soon to become legalized in Canada. Marijuana use is a controversial topic due to the beliefs held concerning the effects it can have on a person. A social issues statement surrounding cannabis is that its legalization will result in favorable outcomes for the vast majority Canadian citizens. The issue here is not whether marijuana should be legalized or not, since that is inevitable at this point, but what effect will legalizing marijuana will have on the country as a whole. Legalizing marijuana will impact Canada’s public health, crime rates, and the economy, but will all of these be favourable? Since Canada will be the first country to legalize marijuana on a national level, there is a lack of first-hand evidence
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One means this can be done is by creating laws regarding advertisements to prevent marijuana use from becoming normalized. It is necessary to establish that marijuana is not a regularly used substance, especially during the initial stages of legalization. This is important because if cannabis were to become recognized as commonly used, the country’s number of lifetime users would instantly sky rocket. This is extremely similar to the laws that are in place surrounding alcohol and smoking tobacco. According to the guide produced by Advertising Standards Canada, the Code for Broadcast Advertising of Alcoholic Beverages (CRTC Code) can be summarized as follows: “(1) Advertising must not encourage the general consumption of alcohol (2) Advertising must not promote the irresponsible or illegal use of alcohol (3) Advertising must not associate alcohol with social or personal achievement (4) Advertising must not be directed to persons under the legal drinking age [and] (5) Advertising must not associate alcohol with the use of motor vehicles or with activities requiring a significant degree of skill or care” (Advertising Standards Canada, 2016). If similar laws surrounding the advertising of marijuana use made, it is far less likely that marijuana use would become normalized, decreasing potential health risks.
One of these risks is the respiratory diseases that can be obtained if cannabis is smoked. Marijuana is most frequently smoked which is unfortunate as according to the American Lung Association, smoking the drug can result in “chronic cough, phlegm production, wheeze and acute bronchitis” (2015). Suggested alternative ways of marijuana use such as ingestion or inhalation of smoke free cannabis should be promoted, although they do have their own downfalls as
One means this can be done is by creating laws regarding advertisements to prevent marijuana use from becoming normalized. It is necessary to establish that marijuana is not a regularly used substance, especially during the initial stages of legalization. This is important because if cannabis were to become recognized as commonly used, the country’s number of lifetime users would instantly sky rocket. This is extremely similar to the laws that are in place surrounding alcohol and smoking tobacco. According to the guide produced by Advertising Standards Canada, the Code for Broadcast Advertising of Alcoholic Beverages (CRTC Code) can be summarized as follows: “(1) Advertising must not encourage the general consumption of alcohol (2) Advertising must not promote the irresponsible or illegal use of alcohol (3) Advertising must not associate alcohol with social or personal achievement (4) Advertising must not be directed to persons under the legal drinking age [and] (5) Advertising must not associate alcohol with the use of motor vehicles or with activities requiring a significant degree of skill or care” (Advertising Standards Canada, 2016). If similar laws surrounding the advertising of marijuana use made, it is far less likely that marijuana use would become normalized, decreasing potential health risks.
One of these risks is the respiratory diseases that can be obtained if cannabis is smoked. Marijuana is most frequently smoked which is unfortunate as according to the American Lung Association, smoking the drug can result in “chronic cough, phlegm production, wheeze and acute bronchitis” (2015). Suggested alternative ways of marijuana use such as ingestion or inhalation of smoke free cannabis should be promoted, although they do have their own downfalls as