MARIJUANA AWARENESS CAMPAIGN: BE WEED WISE

Marijuana And The Law

Reprinted with permission from The Buzz:

There has been lots of talk in Canada about decriminalizing the
possession of small amounts of marijuana. It is important to know
that this has not happened to date and that possession of marijuana
is still illegal. The current legislation governing cannabis use and
possession is found under the Controlled Drug and Substances Act. It
states that a person charged with simple possession of 30 grams or
less of cannabis or 1 gram or less of cannabis resin (hash or hash
oil) may be prosecuted summarily and provides for a maximum term of 6
months imprisonment, a fine of $1000.00 or both and a permanent court
record. For larger amounts or a second offence, the maximum penalties
are $2,000 and/or 12 months in prison, and a permanent criminal record.

Most people convicted of possessing marijuana for the first time
receive a fine or a discharge. Either way, you could end up with a
criminal record. The maximum penalty for growing marijuana is seven
years in prison. The maximum penalty for selling marijuana (called
"trafficking"), or bringing it in or out of the country, is life in
prison. It is also illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana.
Article S. 253 of the Canadian Criminal Code says that: "Everyone
commits an offence who operates a motor vehicle or operates or
assists in the operation of an aircraft or railway equipment or has
the care or control of a motor vehicle, vessel, aircraft or railway
equipment, whether it is in motion or not,

(a) while the person's ability to operate the vehicle, vessel,
aircraft or railway equipment is impaired by alcohol or a drug." This
means that it is possible to be charged with driving under the
influence of marijuana. How is marijuana use detected? According to
local RCMP, officers are trained to recognize the symptoms of drug
use. If a police officer suspects that a driver is under the
influence of a drug the police officer would then enter into an
impaired driving (by drug) investigation as well as a possible
criminal code investigation into possession of a controlled
substance. If there is sufficient, reasonable and probable grounds to
believe that someone is impaired by drugs charges would follow.

What are the long term consequences of a marijuana charge?

A charge for possession of cannabis can impact your ability to travel
to other countries including the United States. Immigration officials
have the right to refuse entry to anyone with a criminal record.

Cannabis use can interfere with your ability to get certain jobs.
Some employers require a criminal record check be done prior to
making an offer for employment. It is also important to know that
some employers test for marijuana and other drug use prior to making
an offer for employment.

Marijuana and Mental Health

There is plenty of research to show that marijuana use can cause
short lived psychotic episodes which include mild impairment of
consciousness, distortion of time sense, a dream like euphoric state,
fragmentation of thought processes and auditory and visual
hallucinations. These experiences are usually brief and the person
soon returns to normal.

There is evidence from a number of studies that rates of marijuana
use are higher among those people with schizophrenia than the general
population (about twice as high). Regular marijuana use increases the
chance of developing later schizophrenia or a schizophrenia like
illness by approximately two to three times. Research suggests that
those who start using marijuana at an early age (under 15) have an
increased risk of developing a schizophrenic disorder when compared
with those who started using at age 18 or older. Marijuana use is a
moderate risk factor in the development of schizophrenia for those
who are already vulnerable because of individual or family reasons.

Using marijuana can make symptoms and treatment outcomes worse for
those who have schizophrenia. Research also shows that marijuana use
is a moderate risk factor for developing later depression especially
for those who begin using under the age of 18.