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OUR VIEW: Keeping pot away from youth is going to be a challenge

Today is the big day – pot is finally legal in our nation. But are we ready for it? Yes, we know it won’t necessarily be a big change when it comes to people’s personal habits.
hands, smoking, joint, iStock
Are teens more likely to smoke a joint now that marijuana is legal?

Today is the big day – pot is finally legal in our nation.

But are we ready for it?

Yes, we know it won’t necessarily be a big change when it comes to people’s personal habits. But is Canada ready for a structured weed system?

For example, one of the biggest reasons for legalizing marijuana is to get it away from teenagers.

Some argue that making recreational pot legal will normalize its use and make it more accessible for young people. Others say there will be more control over it once it’s in the government’s hands.

With legal weed, parents and agencies supporting youth will have to up their game in talking to young people about potential risks to mental health because teens will always want to experiment.

There is a concern, too, that black market pot won’t go away because of high taxes and teens will turn to it instead of waiting until they’re 19 to buy legally. B.C. will apply a 15-per-cent markup to pot on its shelves, plus five-per-cent federal GST, seven-per-cent provincial sales tax and a new 2.3-per-cent regulatory recovery fee from Health Canada.

Will all those taxes ratchet up the price and keep criminal drug gangs in business? That is a concern that needs to be addressed.