With many promises the liberal government made, one particular promise raises a lot of questions.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau proposed the potential legalization of marijuana.
Colin Catonio, Deputy chief for the Lethbridge Regional Police Service, says the government needs to think through the effects of legalizing the drug.
He says before you can legalize marijuana, you have to take into consideration the establishments it will take to make this accessible to the public.
“Beyond the taxes it might generate, there is a whole bunch of others things such as minimum age of possession and illegal distribution,” says Catonio.
Although he doesn’t agree with the direction the government is taking regarding the legalization of marijuana, he fully understands why.
“There is a lot of health medical concerns around legalizing marijuana and I think the medical community needs to step up,” said Catonio.
He says the government needs to do further research and ask the medical community how this will affect the health system.
Catonio says there is speculation the drug is a harmless herb but that’s not necessarily true.
Terra Zousiuk, health services manager at Lethbridge College, says because alcohol and tobacco are legalized, it doesn’t mean marijuana is okay.
“Your brain doesn’t stop developing until you are in your mid twenties, marijuana can slow down your brain development in emotional, academic and social ways,” says Zousiuk.
She adds marijuana may lead to risks of anxiety and depression as well as a potential risk of developing schizophrenia.
Catonio says if the government legalizes marijuana it would be a huge tax benefit.
Considering Canada now has a liberal government and much of southern Alberta is conservative, it brings a lot of speculation on how this may affect the city of Lethbridge.
Jeff Carlson, Lethbridge city councillor says Lethbridge College’s Faron Elis has done many surveys of the community and surrounding area and the results show southern Alberta is open to decriminalizing marijuana.
“I think that were seen as very conservative, but we do have common sense and we understand what issues we should be focusing on and what issues our money should go towards,” says Carlson.
He continues to add he enjoys listening to Trudeau’s approach on the legalization of marijuana.
“He wants to talk with people involved in addictions and crime, but I would like to hear what the negative benefits are.”
He adds taking marijuana away from organized crime is a positive benefit for the city.
Both Carlson and Catonio are hopeful that marijuana will soon be decriminalized. They would rather see it as a fine over a criminal charge.