Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) President Kevin Sabet released this statement on the Senate vote for the legalization of marijuana in Canada:
“Despite warnings and opposition from major medical groups, and international treaties outlawing the legal sales of marijuana, Canada has, on a mainly party-line vote, sided with the mariijuana industry and legalized the drug for those 18 and older. As expected, investors are in a frenzy to make money, and they are seizing on the fact that several pro-health amendments to the law were defeated.
“A sensible amendment to create a public registry of investors in pot companies was defeated, as was an amendment allowing provinces to determine their own home cultivation laws. These could have strengthened the law much further. This dangerous law would allow individuals to make their own high-potency pot candies, gummies and 99% pure extracts (compare that with 5% potent Woodstock weed). With 70% of today’s illicit drug users having started with marijuana, not prescription drugs, this is exactly the wrong time to legalize pot.
“Our brains are developing until age 25 or 30; what safeguards will be in place to discourage young people from using marijuana? Who is collecting critical, independent data on the consequences of this change? And how will this law hold up in the United Nations, where Canada is a signatory to three international drug conventions?
“We at SAM – in both countries – will keep lawmakers and the industry accountable. We cannot allow the massive Big Marijuana industry to railroad public health. We will be working with government and private industry to reduce the consequences of this ill-conceived piece of legislation.”