No one's entirely sure why marijuana was made illegal. There wasn't any discussion on the matter. There was just a blitz where a bunch of drugs were made illegal and pot was one of them.

For the record: skunk is seriously bad news from a psychiatric point of view.

Untinkered weed? Meh: just hope you've not got a close-ish family history of paranoid schizophrenia, neurosis, anxiety or psychosis before you toke up. Because long-term use can and will bring any of that out if you've got it in your genetic back pocket. It will take time and you do have to have the likelihood there, though... probably coupled with a couple of other triggers. Cannabis, however, is one of the bigger triggers.

But, skunk? That's a seriously fast track to issues. Even with the minimal family history you might not be aware of having (seriously: do you keep tabs on second cousins or great-great-great uncles or aunts?).

Until we hit the days we can get genetic tests done to see which drugs (either medicinal or recreational) we are compatible with... it's better to apply caution when it comes to public health. (Myself, I'd advocate for heavy regulation and monitoring of quality and strength by going the legal route.)

But, just putting it out there: it's not as safe as people like to think. It has a narrower spectrum of things that can go wrong than alcohol does. But, the effects can actually be more devastating.

edited 17th Aug '14 7:53:07 AM by Euodiachloris

I recognize that, I'm fairly certain none of that was known when it was made illegal though.

Looks like Trudeau and Mulcair are really trying to run a 10 province campaign next year. Not sure if it's worth the effort, particularly for Trudeau. Not sure you can win Alberta with that name.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/liberals-ndp-plan-to-storm-alberta-in-next-federal-election-1.2739080

Cross-post from the LEO thread:

Firefighters and supporters invade Montreal's city hall and thrash the place to manifest their anger.

Pensions of firefighters, LEOs and the likes are on the line, and they aren't happy about it.

Notably, an estimated ~50 police officers was on site and sat on their hands, with riot gear in reach.

A few elected individual were intimidated and endangered in the ruckus, due to the protestors throwing glasses.

edited 19th Aug '14 5:33:08 AM by QuestionMarc

Shits falling apart for the NDP over Mulcair's support fir Israel.

Yeah, he just lost a Quebec MP (the fourth in the province to defect since the election) over the Gaza conflict.

Plus there is still that spending scandal that the party is going through.

Bill C-24 passed as law.

Basically marijuana was made illegal globally because the US shoved it down the UN's throat. It was made illegal in the US because of a long policy of demonization by puritanical types allied with the tobacco and wood pulp industries that saw it as competition.

edited 3rd Sep '14 5:45:51 AM by tricksterson

There could very well be a Charter challenge to that, particularly the part regarding the stripping of citizenship. That isn't something that should be easy for the government to do.

I know the Libs and NDP don't like it. You should see the comments from netizens on supporting it 'cause of "freeloaders".

I know I had to move out to be close with immediate family in Asia. Had no say on the matter.

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=859509

Ottawa welcomes Bill C-24.

The Chronicle Herald's opinion on Harper's criticism of Putin.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/editorial-cartoon/2014-09-03-editorial-cartoon

Mulcair will release his party platform earlier than expected.

Probably a good idea considering the NDP is facing an uphill, defensive fight next election. They need to rally the base and keep people from going back to the Liberals.

So they found one of the Franklin Expedition ships, and Harper is trying to politicize it and take all the credit.

If anyone actually votes for him on this basis they should probably be deported...or at least dope-slapped.

I'd rather they get sent on an expedition to find the Northwest Passage with only rudimentary canning technology and wooden ships.

Hell, if they like the ships so much, let's just deport them all over there... (As in, beside the lost expedition's ships)

edited 10th Sep '14 3:53:37 AM by QuestionMarc

So we're going to be "advising" Iraqi soldiers shortly. You know it took him a decade but harper still found a way to get our soldiers into that clusterfuck. I hate ISIS but the iraqi army literally ran away when confronted. Are we going to hand duties over to them in three years time so they can run away again or are we just going to turn the country over to the kurds?

So presumably they would benefit from the advice of Canada's far-better military, yes?

"See, when the enemy comes, you fight them"

"Ooooooh."

"Yeah, sorry."

Incidentally, at present what's left of the Iraqi Army seems to be pushing back with the Kurds and pro-govt militias. So no, they haven't just run away.

Yeah the Iraqi troops aren't that bad from my understanding, it's the bloated and politicised leadership corps that's the problem.

Goddammit, Harper. You racist.

Rob Ford has dropped out of the Toronto mayoral race after he was diagnosed with a tumour that might be cancerous.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/rob-ford-withdraws-from-mayoral-race-1.2764485

His brother is taking his place on the ballot.

edited 12th Sep '14 10:20:11 AM by Rationalinsanity