As Canada gets ready to legalize cannabis for recreational use, the Canadian government is considering whether or not to pardon low level drug offenders. The answer is yes, of course they should.
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told CBC News that the liberal government is looking closely at “all the legal implications,” though they have not yet come to a decision about how they should proceed. “We're in the midst of a major change here. I know there is a real anxiety for a bit of a play-by-play commentary, but I think the responsible thing is to do the analysis, see where the unfairnesses are and take the appropriate steps to correct those problem,” Goodale said.
Many people have called for the Canadian government to stop charging people with cannabis possession, citing the unfairness and hypocrisy of arresting and charging people for possession of a substance that is going to be legal in less than seven months. Goodale acknowledged that yes, this is unfair, but the law is the law basically. I’ll admit, I am not the most knowledgeable person in matters of the law, but it seems like it would be pretty simple for police officers to simply look the other way on this matter? This would certainly help unclog the justice system in Canada.
One thing that is for certain is that people with cannabis charges prior to legalization should be released from prison or have their records expunged. I understand that this will be a long and complicated process, and it will most likely not be possible until after the new law is finalized, but it needs to be done.
There is no reason for some people to have the freedom to smoke all the weed they want, while others have a criminal record for the same thing. No one should sit in prison for selling dime bags, when celebrities are allowed to start their own cannabis lifestyle brands, weed resorts, etc. Prisons are filled with people who had the bad luck to get caught using or selling a plant. It’s time to let them out.
Source: CBC News
Image Source: Leafly
Do you think people with prior cannabis convictions should have their records expunged? Tell us why or why not in the comments!