The election of Donald Trump came as a surprise to many people. He campaigned on various issues, but cannabis wasn’t a big one. Since becoming President, Trump has proposed several changes that demonstrate exactly where he stands on it.

In January, his administration once again freed prosecutors to enforce federal laws in states that had decriminalized marijuana, both recreationally and medically. That means that people who have obtained cannabis legally in their state can still be prosecuted federally. This is a blatant strike against the idea of “state’s rights” that conservatives usually champion, but it’s not something that most people were surprised by.

Trump against the world

Part of the reason Trump got elected was that he convinced people that America should come first for Americans. It strikes a chord with tribalism, and only serves to isolate the US from the rest of the world. This isn’t a good thing.

We have two very close neighbours: Canada and Mexico. Our relationship with Mexico has become increasingly strained, thanks to numerous statements by President Trump, including stating that Mexico will pay for a border wall. Our relationship with Canada has also become slightly more strained, though the effects haven’t been as obvious.

One way this has started to become clear is the way Canada is going about their consideration of legalizing cannabis. In summer 2018, Prime Minister Trudeau expects to roll out legalized, recreational cannabis nationwide in Canada. But Canada does not act as an island, and it doesn’t want to. There are millions of people who cross the US-Canada border every day.

The tie-up

If Canada goes through with their legalization, then the US will have to deal with people who suddenly can’t cross the border. As long as it’s still illegal in the US, Canadians who travel to the US frequently may face ridiculous repercussions. Expect longer lines, more inspections, and tighter security.

This is likely to mean that the US border side will have additional agents and dogs. They’re expected to turn away more people, meaning more paperwork. That all amounts to one thing: a higher cost. So the result is that the US starts spending more money and time on keeping marijuana out of the US, while simultaneously taking away the rights of individual states to determine if they want cannabis to be legal or not.

It’s getting ridiculous. Cannabis, as a plant, has been responsible for no overdoses in the US. We have proof now that it does have potential medical benefits. Many studies have shown that it can help reduce pain associated with long-term conditions and can ease the impacts of severe treatments like chemotherapy.

In fact, legalizing cannabis might have another unintended benefit. A recent article came out that shows that opioid use is lower in states that have less severe marijuana laws. The studies show that people may be more willing to use medical marijuana for pain instead of opioids when they have the option of getting both legally.

So, what are we doing?

Instead of keeping up with the latest research, the US has just fallen into two camps, with one side fervently against marijuana. Unfortunately, that camp makes up a considerable portion our governing body at the moment. And because we can’t make a decision, we’re continuing to throw money at something that should essentially be a non-issue. Task forces dedicated to stopping the sale of marijuana, both legally and illegally, eat up taxpayer money.

A considerable portion of the people caught and arrested with marijuana are not dealing with large quantities. In 2016, over 650,000 people were arrested for marijuana. That’s a huge number since so many people support legalization, and taxpayers are the ones who pay for each person that goes to jail. This is especially troubling since it seems that people are willing to choose marijuana over more dangerous drugs, like opioids.

The truth of the matter is the ban on cannabis is not working out in America’s favour. It actually pushes people towards harder drugs, as opposed to acting as a “gateway drug.” It wastes taxpayer money, creates more bureaucratic red tape, and now, it will start hurting our relationship with some of our closest trade partners.

That money could be redistributed to more pressing problems like the opioid epidemic, which is killing thousands of people all over the country, and legalization of marijuana would only further that positive redistribution. If we tax weed, assuming each state makes about $10 million a year in taxes from it, we could fund Planned Parenthood! And that’s a low number if Colorado is setting the standard for expected marijuana tax income.

We need to stop and think about this because something isn’t working. Is the war on marijuana really worth all this? Many other nations don’t think so. Perhaps it’s time we join them.

This guest post is written by Kate Harveston, a writer and political activist from Pennsylvania. She blogs about culture and politics, and the various ways that those elements act upon each other. For more of her work, you can follow her on Twitter or subscribe to her blog, Only Slightly Biased.

Medical cannabis was first legalized in Canada in 2001, which allowed citizens to partake as long as they had a prescription. The medical cannabis business expanded over the past 16 years, reaching a point today in which Canada is on the verge of full-scale legalization. With the continued support of Trudeau, 2018 could be a big year for Canadian cannabis.

Though the momentum behind legalization seems insurmountable, there are a ton of factors that will inevitably be considered before Canada jumps headlong into legalization.

A long road

Before 2001, cannabis was wholly illegal throughout Canada, as delineated in the 1923 Narcotic Drugs Act Amendment Bill. As with many other countries, cannabis popularity surged throughout the ’60s and ’70s, leading to a nationwide panic and increasingly strict penalties for possession and use. As it rests today, possession of cannabis without a valid medical condition is still a federal crime.

However, as of 2001, Canada became the first country to legalize medical cannabis. Between 2001 and 2014, a government-issued medical card was required, and all cannabis sales were completed through government dispensaries, barring rare exceptions. However, in 2014, the laws changed to allow practicing physicians to write prescriptions for their patients. Since then, the laws have remained fairly stagnant: non-medical possession is still illegal, and dispensaries require permission from a registered doctor.

From this timeline, one thing is very clear: drug policy moves very slowly. The pro-recreational movement continues picking up steam, but it could easily be another year, 2 or 5 before the laws catch up to the public trends. For many, changing the rules is more aesthetic than anything else: they already hold prescriptions for medical use and have a wide selection of dispensaries at their disposal.

Investments

Money tends to push legislation forward in ways that public or political support can’t. With this in mind, as well as the estimates of a multibillion-dollar recreational cannabis industry following legalization, even the crawl of bureaucratic maneuvering will likely rush forward. South of the border, US states like Washington, Oregon, and Colorado are already reaping the benefits of a fully-legal system, imposing heavy state taxes on the sale and distribution of the budding industry.

Of course, Canada operates as one unit, so legalization would take effect all across the country, potentially dwarfing even the statewide booms. Companies already establishing themselves in cannabis-legal states are eyeing Canada as their next targets for expansion, potentially jockeying with domestic companies. The sooner legalization occurs, the sooner these huge investors — and all the money they bring — open their doors for business.

Of course, this only scratches the surface of a joint US–Canada market. Strains grown in California could be shipped to Ontario or vice versa. With an entire contiguous coast stretching from Vancouver to San Diego, the opportunities for cross-breeding and trade seem endless.

2018

As we ring in the New Year, many questions remain over the prospect of a green 2018. The motivation to enact full legalization is certainly there: Canada would benefit from both domestic and foreign revenue following a move towards recreational cannabis use. However, predicting a move like this can be difficult.

As it stands, the House of Commons has already passed a bill to legalize cannabis for this July. It is still before the Senate, and many believe it is unlikely the Senate will oppose it. It’s already received first and second reading.

Keeping in mind the push and pull factors behind legalization will help gauge exactly where the progress stands. Assuming the West Coast states can work out some trade agreement that skirts US national law, the economic benefits for both Canada and the states will probably tip the scale. On the other hand, government red tape could bring the entire process to a crawl. We’ll just have to wait and see.