On October 17, 2018, Canada became the second country in the world, behind Uruguay, to federally legalize the consumption of cannabis, ending nearly a century of prohibition. But six weeks later, many cannabis users are wondering whatB次元官网网址檚 different, if anything.

B次元官网网址淣othingB次元官网网址檚 really changedB次元官网网址攊tB次元官网网址檚 all the same, and I hate the stigma (thatB次元官网网址檚 still attached to smoking cannabis),B次元官网网址� said Connie Sanders. Black Press Media has changed this name to protect the identity of her children.

In 1908, Canada enacted the Opium Act, which saw the criminalization of morphine, opium, and cocaine use. And amidst mindsets that believed in such things as reefer madness and the marijuana menace, cannabis was added to the Confidential Restricted List of the Narcotics Drug Act Amendment Bill in 1923.

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And there it stayed until the Liberal Party enacted the Cannabis Act in June, 2018. But legalizing cannabis usage has been on the minds of Canadians for decades.

Since the late 1990s, public opinion polls have continued to show more and more agreement with the statement, B次元官网网址楽moking marijuana should not be a criminal offense.B次元官网网址� In 2001, medical marijuana was legalized, and by June 2017, seven out of 10 Canadians were in favour of legalization. And perhaps most recently, a survey conducted in January of 2018 showed at least 23 per cent of Canadians admitted to using cannabis within the previous 12 months.

Yet now that smoking a joint is as legal as smoking a cigarette, or drinking a glass of wine, SandersB次元官网网址攚hoB次元官网网址檚 married with two childrenB次元官网网址攕ays sheB次元官网网址檚 not noticing much acceptance, which she says is strange, considering how many years itB次元官网网址檚 been somewhat culturally acceptable.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 still lots of mystery behind (marijuana),B次元官网网址� said Dr. Steven Esau, manager of the Fraser Region Youth Addiction Centre.

B次元官网网址淭he lack of knowledge of whatB次元官网网址檚 behind cannabis and what it does to the human body B次元官网网址� (may be part of) peopleB次元官网网址檚 hesitancy in accepting (it). We donB次元官网网址檛 totally know its magnitude of affect on the development of the brain.B次元官网网址�

But affect the brain it does, as Esau continued on to explain that cannabis is fat-soluble, which allows it to cross the blood-brain barrier.

B次元官网网址淎nd the marijuana we have now is different than what they had in the B次元官网网址�70s. ItB次元官网网址檚 far more potent. So maybe not knowing the full grasp of what it could do to a developing brain (worries people).B次元官网网址�

That may explain why Sanders had a mom pick up her child after a play date, B次元官网网址渁nd we havenB次元官网网址檛 seen that kid since,B次元官网网址� she said sadly as she watched her youngest play in the living room.

It wasnB次元官网网址檛 that she had been smoking in front of the children, rather the scent of cannabis was present in her home, but, she says, the smell tends to linger.

B次元官网网址淚 live in the cannabis world: I eat it, smoke it, and rub it on myself B次元官网网址� (almost) 24 hours a day. I smell like it? I always smell like it, so they canB次元官网网址檛 (judge based just) on that. People (seem to) get offended by its strong smellB次元官网网址攅ven if it hasnB次元官网网址檛 been smoked.B次元官网网址�

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ItB次元官网网址檚 like the disdain for marijuana use has been ingrained in our culture and everyone has an opinion on those who use it.

B次元官网网址淏ut an opinion is yours, and free to have, but itB次元官网网址檚 not part of the law,B次元官网网址� said RCMP spokesperson, Mike Rail.

Which is why the Royal Canadian Mounted Police began training in regards to dealing with cannabis prior to legislation being passed this October.

The point is no longer whether or not you agree with the consumption of cannabis, says Rail, itB次元官网网址檚 now about the application and enforcement of our countryB次元官网网址檚 laws, which no longer bans cannabis use for any reason.

B次元官网网址滱nd as the laws change, society (needs to) change and (we) have to do what (we) can to (deal with those changes) B次元官网网址� but there are going to be growing pains in any (situation) like this.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not a matter of just flipping a switch, itB次元官网网址檚 the way weB次元官网网址檙e going as a society,B次元官网网址� continued Rail. B次元官网网址淵ou learn to work within that society, and itB次元官网网址檚 new, but youB次元官网网址檒l learn.B次元官网网址�

And thatB次元官网网址檚 not just for police officers, but members of the public in general: B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e all the same, so now we evolve (to culturally accept) cannabis,B次元官网网址� added the seasoned officer.

B次元官网网址淲e (also) need to research it,B次元官网网址� said Esau. People need to B次元官网网址渞eally engage in the research to see what the long-term effects are, and (whether legalization) was a good move or not. The more research we do, the more knowledge that could be transferred to the publicB次元官网网址� to possibly assuage the lingering issues they have with the former narcotic.

But Sanders says she isnB次元官网网址檛 so sure that itB次元官网网址檚 that simple for everybody.

B次元官网网址淚 have to say that thereB次元官网网址檚 still an underground lifestyle (surrounding cannabis use). I know so many moms who smoke, who get together in groups and smoke while watching their kids B次元官网网址� but guaranteed IB次元官网网址檝e lost friends because IB次元官网网址檓 so open about my (cannabis usage).B次元官网网址�

And while Sanders says she tries her B次元官网网址渂est to be very honest from the beginningB次元官网网址� of any new relationship, especially one involving her children, sheB次元官网网址檚 still meeting resistance to her usage of marijuana.

B次元官网网址淪o whatB次元官网网址檚 different, really? Not much except it gives me more power in my chest so if IB次元官网网址檓 somewhere and IB次元官网网址檓 not feeling well, now I can (legally) say, B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檓 going to smoke a joint,B次元官网网址� but I know people will still stare.B次元官网网址�

And stare they do. Sanders says she does her best to obey all public smoking laws, yet still bears witness to mothers pulling their children down sidewalks away from her, or receives snide comments from people while in public spaces.

B次元官网网址淲hy canB次元官网网址檛 it be accepted like going to have a drink of wine?B次元官网网址� Sanders asked rhetorically. B次元官网网址淧ersonally, IB次元官网网址檇 much rather smoke than drink. Why canB次元官网网址檛 we be like Amsterdam where itB次元官网网址檚 just so accepted and normal with (marijuana) plants growing in public gardens.B次元官网网址�