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A few questions I have been asked, by myself and by others, and my answers:

Q Wasn’t this a waste of police resources?

A It’s certainly tough to see how anyone’s better off. Other than perplexed neighbours, police have identified no victims of these crimes. Every criticism Police Chief Mark Saunders levelled at the dispensaries could more appropriately be levelled at, shall we say, traditional marijuana retailers: the lack of provable quality assurance, the possibility that they might sell to children, and so on. He had no evidence they had manifested at the businesses charged.

Indeed, these are among the arguments against prohibition of all intoxicants. Alcohol won the day in Ontario 90 years ago, and marijuana seems to be next in line.

Q Well, exactly. Justin Trudeau says Canada will legalize marijuana. So aren’t we in “legislative limbo,” as Coun. Joe Cressy, chairman of the Toronto Drug Strategy Implementation Panel, claims? Isn’t the legal status of pot very confusing?

A No, we’re not in legislative limbo. And no, it’s not confusing. Justin Trudeau promised that last year’s election would be the last conducted under first-past-the-post. Now let’s imagine he went on an elbowing-and-cursing spree during a preschool visit and his government collapsed and we had to hold an election in July. Would we all tear our hair out wondering which electoral system to use?

No. We’d use first-past-the-post. The law is the law until it changes.