Is it time to change Canada's laws on the possession and use of marijuana?

The marijuana debate: The government is considering relaxing the laws on marijuana. The NDP want it decriminalized, while the Liberals want it legalized. If change is coming, what option do you prefer? With guest host Andrew Nichols....

CBC Radio · Posted: Aug 24, 2014 12:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: November 10, 2014

The marijuana debate: The government is considering relaxing the laws on marijuana. The NDP want it decriminalized, while the Liberals want it legalized.

If change is coming, what option do you prefer?

With guest host Andrew Nichols.

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Introduction

There has been a lot of buzz this past week about a question that has been with us for a long time: the marijuana question. Attitudes towards pot have evolved over the decades from the 'reefer madness' of the 50's ...to the 'turn-on and tune-out' of the 60's ...to the 'whatever' attitude of the present day.

We want to talk about whether the marijuana laws should be changed ...and if so how? The idea that it is time for a change appears to be gaining political momentum. Two of the opposition parties advocate significant changes ...the NDP want to de-criminalize it and the Liberals want to legalize it. The government, once staunchly opposed to any change that didn't involve tightening the law, now says it is currently assessing whether to follow the recommendation of Canada's Chiefs of Police and make simple possession and use a ticketable offence.

South of the border -- the home of the "War on Drugs" -- two states: Colorado and Washington, have completely loosened their marijuana laws thus taking away the argument that any change here would put Canada at odds with the U.S. and turn this country into a drug haven. Many say now that 'change is in the air.'

After decades of a hardline 'war-on-drugs' approach to stamping out marijuana use, many of its most ardent supporters are now saying that approach has failed. People still smoke the stuff and criminals still get rich from selling it. And, too many young people end up with criminal records for doing something that they see as relatively harmless. Meanwhile the recent and increasing acceptance of marijuana use for medical purposes has facilitated a more general acceptance of it.

But if the hardline approach has failed, where do we go next. Should the laws be altered? If so, how should they be changed? Should they be mildly relaxed, should they be decriminalized, or should marijuana be completely legalized? Some of these questions will be informed by concerns about health consequences for younger people with still developing brains.

We want to know what you think.

Our question today: "Is it time to change Canada's laws on the possession and use of marijuana?

I'm Andrew Nichols ...on CBC Radio One ...and on Sirius XM, satellite radio channel 169 ...this is Cross Country Checkup.