It’s long been apparent that the Liberal legalization of marijuana in this country is not going to provide the mellow buzz the government had sought.

We’re more than a year out from promised legislation, but there’s smoke on the horizon.

The Canadian Medical Association has condemned the legal age of 18 being set by the federal Liberals, citing data that shows early marijuana use leads to everything from depression and anxiety to a lifetime dependency rate of 17 per cent for those who start smoking as teenagers. That’s almost double the rate of those who begin use after their brains mature at age 25.

Too much has been offloaded on provinces who argue they will not have time to properly initiate and regulate a supply system when the federal law is in place, as promised, in about 13 months. They will be responsible for distribution, regulations on smoking in public places, compliance — and can set a different age limit higher than the federal legal age.

Big city mayors want a slice of the revenue to offset costs they will incur from police enforcement to processing business licensing applications.

There is some polling evidence that Canadian support for legalization is softening — especially over the age 18 limit — as the details of the law become better known.

There is time for the government and the provinces to get this right, but there are two problems that transcend regulation and distribution.

By refusing to decriminalize something it has promised to legalize in a year, the government is being hypocritical by allowing Canadians to be charged for simple pot possession. It must be prepared to announce a blanket amnesty for anyone convicted of marijuana possession in this country and be prepared to move with lightning speed once its bill becomes law.

And it must work with the Donald Trump administration to ensure that Canadians will not be turned back at the border for admitting to doing something that is legal in this country. That’s a tall order.

The government believes decriminalizing pot possession now or announcing a plan for blanket pardons would allow existing laws to be widely flaunted.

But they appear ready to move.

Scott Bardsley, a spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, says as the legislation proceeds, “the government intends to consider options about what can be done to make things fairer for Canadians who have been previously convicted for minor possession offences.”

Calls for amnesty are coming from all sides, and within the Liberal caucus the loudest voice has been that of Nathaniel Erskine-Smith who represents the Toronto riding of Beaches-East York.

He was contacted by a constituent — an old high school classmate — who was charged with possession in Espanola, Ont. He received a conditional discharge, but even that can cause difficulties crossing the border.

Erskine-Smith reminds that amnesty was part of the original party resolution on legalizing marijuana, and he believes his government is prepared to do the right thing.

“Once we pass the legislation, it is important to undo the past injustices of this incredibly outdated law and to suspend the criminal records of any Canadian affected by a possession charge and a record,’’ he said. He also believes there should be no more charges for simple possession.

Right now, Canadians are eligible for pardons after five years. Erskine-Smith is hoping to see a ministerial directive waiving the five-year waiting period for those recently convicted.

As recently as 2013, 59,000 Canadians were charged with simple cannabis possession.

But even though Statistics Canada reports cannabis offences declined for four consecutive years (a 15 per cent drop from 2014 to 2015) there were still nearly 49,000 possession charges in 2015.

According to the NDP, 15,000 people, including 7,000 under 25, have been arrested for possession since Justin Trudeau announced his plans to legalize.

Many of those charged are not just young, but marginalized and racialized. The charges hamper their ability to work or travel to the U.S.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Legalization does not change American laws, and this is not a Washington administration that shows signs of looking the other way out of respect for its neighbour’s more liberalized laws.

It would appear to be a matter of simple logic. No one should have to carry a criminal record or face travel restrictions for using something our government wants to legalize.

Tim Harper writes on national affairs. tjharper77@gmail.com , Twitter: @nutgraf1

Read more about: