By Jon Hiltz

 

The growing divide in marijuana policy between Canada and the United States widened significantly last week.

In the span of 48 hours, the DEA’s office in the U.S. announced that marijuana would remain a Schedule 1 narcotic with “high abuse potential, no medical use, and severe safety concerns.” Meanwhile, Canadian officials held a press conference to unveil new laws granting medical marijuana patients in the great white north the option to grow their own if they so desire.

This rift in policies between the neighboring nations continues to separate at a rapid pace.  The Liberals in Canada are taking a progressive approach by expanding medical marijuana access, while also preparing to allow sales of recreational pot at designated outlets across the country.

This is a stark contrast to the U.S. where the federal government has taken a seemingly hypocritical stance by allowing medicinal and recreational marijuana at the state level and then turning a blind eye to any federal implications, despite the fact that 25 states have made medical cannabis available to their residents.

That’s the policy equivalent of driving with the parking brake on, and not acknowledging the damage it’s doing to the car — despite the smell, smoke, and acknowledgment from other drivers on the road.

The divide between the two countries on this policy is just another difference of opinion among friends.  These oppositions are plentiful and include hotly debated topics such as gun control, socialized medicine, and foreign policy.  Regardless, the long-standing relationship that exists will no doubt prevail.

That sentiment was reiterated in July of this year by Bruce Heyman, the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, when he publicly stated that the U.S. has no problems with Canada legalizing Marijuana.  He added that any border issues resulting in discrepancies between the two countries can and will be worked out.

Further to that, the Canadian Embassy in D.C. issued a statement to Marijuana.com at that time, saying they are not concerned and are actively examining the states that have already legalized recreational cannabis, to explore the best ways to make it a reality in Canada.

Or as the Embassy put it:

The Government of Canada has committed to legalizing, regulating, and restricting access of marijuana and will introduce legislation in Spring 2017 that ensures we keep marijuana out of the hands of children and profits out of the hands of criminals. Canada has established a task force to advise on the design of a new system of strict marijuana sales and distribution with input from experts in public health, substance abuse and law enforcement. Canada will be engaging with our international colleagues to seek their perspectives, and we are particularly interested in the U.S. domestic experience with legalization in several U.S. states.

What potentially could be the fly in the ointment between Canada and the U.S. on marijuana, will be who the Americans select for their next President.

Hillary Clinton has already said that she will reschedule marijuana if elected, regardless of the DEA, which means Trudeau and the POTUS will get along nicely in the realm of cannabis reform.  If the former reality TV star that Clinton is running against manages to become the leader of the free world, relations between all three amigos (U.S., Canada, and Mexico) will no doubt change drastically.  In that instance, perhaps marijuana will be part of the plan to “make America great again.” The economic benefits from legal marijuana could be a great asset for either candidate.

Whatever happens, the citizens of both countries have made it clear that legalized marijuana is long overdue.  A Gallup Poll in the U.S. in 2015 stated that 58% of Americans support legalization.  Similarly, a Globe & Mail/Nanos Research Poll in Canada in February of 2016, found that 68% of Canadians support marijuana legalization.

That means whoever sits in the captain’s chair for either nation will need to listen to the passengers if they want to continue at the wheel into the next decade.