A doobious stand for legality

The demand for marijuana legalization is strong enough that the Liberal Party should give it serious consideration.

Ryan Mallough

Silhouette Staff

Bob Rae characterized the Liberal Party as “knocked down,” a term ripe with the political optimism demanded by the leader of a party humbled in an historical fashion.  The fact is the Liberals where much more than knocked down in the last election. Relegated to third party status for the first time in history, the Liberals were the electoral equivalent of curb-stomped and left for dead in the gutter. The people had spoken.  The Liberal Party was on notice and changes needed to be made if the “natural governing party” wanted to survive beyond another election. It started with the naming of Toronto-Centre MP Bob Rae as interim leader to steady the ship, but the real rebuilding did not begin until the party’s biennial convention.

There was an air of optimism amongst delegates going in, and several surprises coming out of the biennial Liberal Party policy convention, held in Ottawa from Jan. 12-15; not the least of which was the election of Mike Crawley as Party President in a narrow defeat of favoured former Deputy Prime Minister Sheila Copps. The party delegates, anchored by a strong youth representation, also voted to keep the Queen and to open up membership for free to all Canadians not already members of a political party, while rejecting the idea of holding American style primaries in leadership races.

However, the most surprising, and if handled correctly the most potentially renewing, resolution to pass – with resounding support – was Resolution 117: support for the legalization and regulation of marijuana.

Proposed by the Young Liberals of British Columbia, Resolution 117 proposes a federally regulated system of MJ growth, distribution and taxation of marijuana. While the plan does not get into the specifics, one imagines a distribution system similar to that of liquor wherein a Crown corporation (similar to the LCBO), likely be administered by a special branch of Health Canada, or perhaps even through the creation of a Ministry of Marijuana (after all, who wouldn’t want the distinction of being Canada’s top dealer?).

Regardless of how it comes into effect, the resolution creates a unique opportunity for the Liberals to shape their platform. One of the more common criticisms of Canadian politics, and particularly of the federal Liberal and New Democrat Parties, is the lack of significant difference between parties.  Passing Resolution 117 changes that.

It is not to say that the Liberals should become the marijuana party, but that support for legalization will allow them to create present unique platform points that will gain public and media attention, as well as help to throw their stances in sharp contrast to those of the Conservatives and New Democrats.

Economically the party is proposing an entirely unique revenue stream for the federal government. The Dutch government collects around $600 million per year from its marijuana industry which is regulated to the city of Amsterdam.  Canada receives approximately 35 million tourists every year (almost quadruple what the Netherlands receives) and could potentially see revenue in the multi-billions from domestic a tourist based consumption.

It also allows for a distinct opposition to the Conservative Crime agenda by legalizing many farmers, dealers and traffickers who currently make up, as of 2009, five per cent of the prison population – a number which will increase when the new Crime Bill comes into effect – and eliminating other competition. The resolution also proposed providing amnesty to those previously convicted of minor possession charges, and will free up police and corrections resources for more serious crimes as well as support for a strong health and drug information and awareness campaign which is a distinct education and prevention based alternative to the Conservative crime and punishment based approach.

Despite these benefits, the Liberals will also have to come armed with data and prepared for the potential onslaught of attacks.  One can already imagine the 30 second spot listing Liberal policies and asking if the party leader is high and the pun-lined debate responses quipped to undermine the issue.

However difficult it may be, the Liberals should not back down. Public support for legalization is strong. A recent poll shows that nearly two thirds of Canadians support legalization, and the benefits largely outweigh the risks. After all, we already condone the far more damaging consumption of alcohol and cigarettes while promoting a sport that all but glorifies brain damage, so why not?