Overall, the road to marijuana legalization in Canada has been as rocky as the beautiful mountains dotting the snowy countryside. Despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s support for the drug, federal and provincial lawmakers have been floating on a divided boat in the sea of indecision for (surprisingly) nearly a century. Now that cannabis is legal, the government has taken a unique approach in allowing provinces to have full control over individual sets of regulations for the drug. In other words, the rules for pot in Saskatchewan will not match regulations in Quebec. Yesterday, however, lawmakers revealed some interesting changes in store for people who have been placed in the criminal justice system. Now, individuals who were previously convicted for producing pot (when the drug was illegal) will receive full pardons and clean records (with only a few exceptions). Let’s see what happens to cannabis offenders now that cannabis is legal.
Cannabis Possession
In a press conference held on October 17, 2018, Canada’s federal government revealed that it is planning to pardon people who were convicted of possessing at least 30 grams of the drug. This news coordinates with the recent legalization of the drug, marking Canada’s status as the first G7 and G20 nation to fully allow the drug across all regions. Prior to this new law, holding cannabis in Canada could have resulted in a $1,000 or (in the worst case scenario) 6 months in jail.
Recently, Ralph Goodale (the Canadian Minister of Public Safety) announced this action will remove waiting periods and fees from the records of individuals who are seeking pardons. However, individuals who have are still serving their sentences will not be allowed to participate until such times have been completed.
Pardons vs. Expungement
Earlier this month, Canadian New Democrats leader Jagmeet Singh called for expungement regarding past offenders. Additional supporters of this action include NDP MP Murray Rankin. So what would the difference be? Overall, expungement refers to the act of completely and permanently wiping a criminal record. Meanwhile, by receiving a pardon, former offenders will receive certain rights and freedoms, including the ability to hold a job without any problems.
Always remember that marijuana does not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from a substance abuse disorder or addiction? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.
The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your drug addiction and substance abuse troubles today.
