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Cannabis may be legal across Canada, but is it publicly accepted in B.C.?

Local cannabis user speaks out about the lingering stigma surrounding cannabis
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Cannabis has been legal for six weeks in Canada, but that hasn香蕉视频直播檛 stopped many from feeling shunned or as though their use is still stigmatized. (Thought Catalog/Unsplash)

On October 17, 2018, Canada became the second country in the world, behind Uruguay, to federally legalize the consumption of cannabis, ending nearly a century of prohibition. But six weeks later, many cannabis users are wondering what香蕉视频直播檚 different, if anything.

香蕉视频直播淣othing香蕉视频直播檚 really changed香蕉视频直播攊t香蕉视频直播檚 all the same, and I hate the stigma (that香蕉视频直播檚 still attached to smoking cannabis),香蕉视频直播 said Connie Sanders. Black Press Media has changed this name to protect the identity of her children.

In 1908, Canada enacted the Opium Act, which saw the criminalization of morphine, opium, and cocaine use. And amidst mindsets that believed in such things as reefer madness and the marijuana menace, cannabis was added to the Confidential Restricted List of the Narcotics Drug Act Amendment Bill in 1923.

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And there it stayed until the Liberal Party enacted the Cannabis Act in June, 2018. But legalizing cannabis usage has been on the minds of Canadians for decades.

Since the late 1990s, public opinion polls have continued to show more and more agreement with the statement, 香蕉视频直播楽moking marijuana should not be a criminal offense.香蕉视频直播 In 2001, medical marijuana was legalized, and by June 2017, seven out of 10 Canadians were in favour of legalization. And perhaps most recently, a survey conducted in January of 2018 showed at least 23 per cent of Canadians admitted to using cannabis within the previous 12 months.

Yet now that smoking a joint is as legal as smoking a cigarette, or drinking a glass of wine, Sanders香蕉视频直播攚ho香蕉视频直播檚 married with two children香蕉视频直播攕ays she香蕉视频直播檚 not noticing much acceptance, which she says is strange, considering how many years it香蕉视频直播檚 been somewhat culturally acceptable.

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 still lots of mystery behind (marijuana),香蕉视频直播 said Dr. Steven Esau, manager of the Fraser Region Youth Addiction Centre.

香蕉视频直播淭he lack of knowledge of what香蕉视频直播檚 behind cannabis and what it does to the human body 香蕉视频直播 (may be part of) people香蕉视频直播檚 hesitancy in accepting (it). We don香蕉视频直播檛 totally know its magnitude of affect on the development of the brain.香蕉视频直播

But affect the brain it does, as Esau continued on to explain that cannabis is fat-soluble, which allows it to cross the blood-brain barrier.

香蕉视频直播淎nd the marijuana we have now is different than what they had in the 香蕉视频直播70s. It香蕉视频直播檚 far more potent. So maybe not knowing the full grasp of what it could do to a developing brain (worries people).香蕉视频直播

That may explain why Sanders had a mom pick up her child after a play date, 香蕉视频直播渁nd we haven香蕉视频直播檛 seen that kid since,香蕉视频直播 she said sadly as she watched her youngest play in the living room.

It wasn香蕉视频直播檛 that she had been smoking in front of the children, rather the scent of cannabis was present in her home, but, she says, the smell tends to linger.

香蕉视频直播淚 live in the cannabis world: I eat it, smoke it, and rub it on myself 香蕉视频直播 (almost) 24 hours a day. I smell like it? I always smell like it, so they can香蕉视频直播檛 (judge based just) on that. People (seem to) get offended by its strong smell香蕉视频直播攅ven if it hasn香蕉视频直播檛 been smoked.香蕉视频直播

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It香蕉视频直播檚 like the disdain for marijuana use has been ingrained in our culture and everyone has an opinion on those who use it.

香蕉视频直播淏ut an opinion is yours, and free to have, but it香蕉视频直播檚 not part of the law,香蕉视频直播 said RCMP spokesperson, Mike Rail.

Which is why the Royal Canadian Mounted Police began training in regards to dealing with cannabis prior to legislation being passed this October.

The point is no longer whether or not you agree with the consumption of cannabis, says Rail, it香蕉视频直播檚 now about the application and enforcement of our country香蕉视频直播檚 laws, which no longer bans cannabis use for any reason.

香蕉视频直播滱nd as the laws change, society (needs to) change and (we) have to do what (we) can to (deal with those changes) 香蕉视频直播 but there are going to be growing pains in any (situation) like this.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not a matter of just flipping a switch, it香蕉视频直播檚 the way we香蕉视频直播檙e going as a society,香蕉视频直播 continued Rail. 香蕉视频直播淵ou learn to work within that society, and it香蕉视频直播檚 new, but you香蕉视频直播檒l learn.香蕉视频直播

And that香蕉视频直播檚 not just for police officers, but members of the public in general: 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e all the same, so now we evolve (to culturally accept) cannabis,香蕉视频直播 added the seasoned officer.

香蕉视频直播淲e (also) need to research it,香蕉视频直播 said Esau. People need to 香蕉视频直播渞eally engage in the research to see what the long-term effects are, and (whether legalization) was a good move or not. The more research we do, the more knowledge that could be transferred to the public香蕉视频直播 to possibly assuage the lingering issues they have with the former narcotic.

But Sanders says she isn香蕉视频直播檛 so sure that it香蕉视频直播檚 that simple for everybody.

香蕉视频直播淚 have to say that there香蕉视频直播檚 still an underground lifestyle (surrounding cannabis use). I know so many moms who smoke, who get together in groups and smoke while watching their kids 香蕉视频直播 but guaranteed I香蕉视频直播檝e lost friends because I香蕉视频直播檓 so open about my (cannabis usage).香蕉视频直播

And while Sanders says she tries her 香蕉视频直播渂est to be very honest from the beginning香蕉视频直播 of any new relationship, especially one involving her children, she香蕉视频直播檚 still meeting resistance to her usage of marijuana.

香蕉视频直播淪o what香蕉视频直播檚 different, really? Not much except it gives me more power in my chest so if I香蕉视频直播檓 somewhere and I香蕉视频直播檓 not feeling well, now I can (legally) say, 香蕉视频直播業香蕉视频直播檓 going to smoke a joint,香蕉视频直播 but I know people will still stare.香蕉视频直播

And stare they do. Sanders says she does her best to obey all public smoking laws, yet still bears witness to mothers pulling their children down sidewalks away from her, or receives snide comments from people while in public spaces.

香蕉视频直播淲hy can香蕉视频直播檛 it be accepted like going to have a drink of wine?香蕉视频直播 Sanders asked rhetorically. 香蕉视频直播淧ersonally, I香蕉视频直播檇 much rather smoke than drink. Why can香蕉视频直播檛 we be like Amsterdam where it香蕉视频直播檚 just so accepted and normal with (marijuana) plants growing in public gardens.香蕉视频直播





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