The debate over making the use of marijuana legal in Canada has become one of key issues in the countrys federal election
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau has vowed to legalize marijuana if elected while the Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper has challenged his opponent’s pro-legalization stance by claiming marijuana is “infinitely worse” than tobacco.
“Tobacco is a product that does a lot of damage. Marijuana is infinitely worse and it’s something that we do not want to encourage,” Harper said
RT reports: Trying to explain why he was so bothered by marijuana, given that tobacco and alcohol are regulated and pot is used for medicinal purposes, Harper said, that the plant is bad for human health.
BYPASS THE CENSORS
Sign up to get unfiltered news delivered straight to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe any time. By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use
“There’s just overwhelming and growing scientific and medical evidence about the bad long-term effects of marijuana,” he said, without backing his claims with any examples.
The Conservative leader also stressed that he will retain tough drug laws aimed at targeting traffickers, who profit off “destroying people’s health.” He was reiterating his claims made during Friday’s second French-language debate when he clashed with Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau.
Justin Trudeau however slammed Stephen Harper for what he said is the prime minister’s “nanny state” stance on marijuana.
According to the Huffington Post, while speaking at the University of Manitoba, Trudeau was asked by pot activist Steven Stairs what he thinks about the government’s new medical marijuana regulations.
“The current hyper-controlled approach around medical marijuana that actually removes from individuals the capacity to grow their own is not going in the right direction, in either respect to freedom or the kind of care that people need,” the Liberal leader said to applause.
Trudeau also reiterated his main talking points regarding his plan to legalize marijuana, mainly that the current legal state of affairs actually makes it easier for young people to get hold of the drug and that a system like that in place for alcohol would work better to curb consumption. Trudeau also stressed that his plan would hurt organized crime.
Niamh Harris
Mr. Harper there is nothing worse than tobacco!!! Are you kidding???? I don’t smoke pot or cigarettes but everyone knows that nicotine is far more addictive than any chemical in pot and that tobacco causes a huge array of health problems that our health system can’t afford. Why don’t you make cigarettes illegal??
Mr. Harper there is nothing worse than tobacco!!! Are you kidding???? I don’t smoke pot or cigarettes but everyone knows that nicotine is far more addictive than any chemical in pot and that tobacco causes a huge array of health problems that our health system can’t afford. Why don’t you make cigarettes illegal??