The New Liberal Marijuana Party

The Liberal Party of Canada under its new leader, Justin Trudeau, rejected any possibility that to gain traction against the ruling Conservative Party of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, it would consider a merge with the New Democratic Party. It is the NDP that nudged aside the Liberals from official opposition status, gaining more seats within the Liberals' traditional source of power within the country, leaving the Liberals in a pathetic third place after its 2006 meltdown and a succession of leaders who were unable to enthuse Canadian voters.

Justin Trudeau, however, that's another matter altogether. He has panache, youth, an infectious personality and appeal, along with the propensity to speak whatever comes to mind, incautiously, which might represent a fault in anyone else, but endears him to the public. His frank, uncalled-for admission that he smoked pot with friends while a sitting MP, and his later interview where he spoke of his intention to see marijuana legalized and taxed just like any other recreational drug reveals his platform, it would seem. A decision to link his party with the Marijuana Party.

While the state of the Canadian economy remains top of mind to most Canadians thinking ahead toward the future, and is the top consideration of the current Conservative-led government, Justin Trudeau hasn't much to say about the economy and how he and his party would undertake measures according to a well-thought-out plan of action to ensure its ongoing robust condition. He feels, he has more or less stated, that to set out his position on the economy is premature.

But his position on an important social message on make marijuana legally available to all who wish to use it, while at the same time protecting young Canadians from its prevalence much as is done with tobacco, is of prime importance, is being addressed, and is causing quite a stir in the public. There will be job creation in establishing legal and large-scale marijuana production facilities.

At the present time, just coincidentally, plans are afoot that a medical marijuana facility be opened at an old abandoned chocolate factory.

Willie Wonka would love that one. Two treats; chocolate failed, but marijuana seems a winner; take your pick. More presumably modest plans for the production of medical marijuana, but once the law establishes that marijuana should be seen not as a gateway drug to more dangerous illegal drugs like cocaine, but nothing different than smoking a cigarette or having a drink, then production can be ramped up, the facilities expanded, and a larger work staff taken on.

Utilizing the old Hershey chocolate plant in Smiths Falls for an initial production staff of 100 employees is a start, one that makes the mayor of Smiths Falls fairly ecstatic for the future of his hard-done-by community. "It's going to happen somewhere in Canada, our community of Smiths Falls -- population 9.000 -- have lost 1,700 jobs in the last five or six years. Our doors are open to try and attract new investment and more fundamentally, recreate and re-establish some of the jobs that have been lost here."


He was speaking glowingly of the revelation that Tweed Inc. plans to use 180,000 square feet of the 470,000 former Hershey chocolate plant complex located in Smiths Falls, and empty of any kind of production since 2008. It was due for demolition if Icon International couldn't find tenants. "We've been shaking the trees and looking in the bushes for the last five or six years ... to try and find a user, but it's such a large physical plant", said Mayor Dennis Staples.

Well, look no more. The town's saviour has arrived. And the Canadian public is about to be extremely well served and serviced. About 30,000 Canadians have been prescribed, up to the present time, the use of medical marijuana for health and pain-relief purposes, according to Health Canada. Tweed, the company that proposes to locate its facilities in Smiths Falls, foresees operating at full capacity as soon as its operation is set up and fully functional.

And, how appropriate, given the circumstances; its corporate team has a handful of ties to the Liberals. Its founder and CEO, Chuck Rifici currently serves as the chief financial officer for the national Liberal Party's board of directors. "It seems Justin Trudeau's focus is on legalizing marijuana...", said Prime Minister Stephen Harper's deputy director of communications.

And, added Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney of the issue of the new plant opening, recently come to his attention: "[Chuck Rifici] plans to open a massive medical marijuana operation in rural Ontario, while the Liberal leader champions marijuana legalization." Something seems to be questionable in the State of Canadian Affairs; values, priorities, ethics and awareness of the greater social good.

But the economy is, after all, being highlighted, it appears. For Tweed Inc. Chairman, Bruce Linton was a past president of the Carleton University Students Association. Posters have appeared at Carleton extolling legalization, claiming that two-thirds of all Canadians have a wish to legalize or decriminalize marijuana. The Young Liberals of Canada provided those posters on campus "to engage youth in a conversation about the legalization of marijuana", according to Liberal communications manager Andree-Lyne Halle.

Reaching the hearts and minds and voting fervour of young Canadians through appealing not to their sense of mature democratic responsibility, but their partying instincts. The posters include a code linking with a "Join the Party" website with a message: "The Liberal Party of Canada wants to treat Canadians like adults. Prohibition has failed, let's create a smarter way." Those disagreeing are most obviously socially immature.

Tomas Belanger smokes a quarter-pound joint on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, April 20, 2013. Thousands of people crowded onto Parliament Hill to mark the event known as 4/20, an annual rally calling for the legalization of marijuana.  Photograph by: Chris Roussakis

"The fact that one of Justin Trudeau's first policy priorities is legalizing marijuana demonstrates that he does not have the judgement to be prime minister"; a statement issued by Conservative party officials. "With absolutely no economic policy, Justin Trudeau's highest priority remains legalizing marijuana", added Mr. Blaney, Minister of Public Safety. "Canadians deserve to know why Justin Trudeau wants to make it easier for children to access drugs"

As it is currently, the possession and use of marijuana other than for medicinal purposes remains illegal in Canada. It is used, despite that, by so many people that considering legalizing its use might represent a issue whose time has come, quite apart from the status as a subject of primary importance it is given by the Mr. Trudeau and the Liberals. Criminal penalties accruing to those arrested or threatened by the law for casual use seems outdated.

On the other hand, marijuana use by Canadian teens "is among the highest in the world", according to the Canadian Public Health Association. And the issue of whether, when, how and why there might be harm in its ongoing, long-time and over-use still has not been adequately settled by medical science. Its use or misuse can become a problem with operating a motor vehicle. Its effect on the still-maturing brain remains another issue.

This is not a simple matter with a simple answer. But nor is it an issue that should be top of the agenda for a major federal political party to solve in advance of other high-priority issues facing the country today.

The Peace Tower is reflected in the sunglasses of a woman as she she celebrates 4/20 on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, April 20, 2013. Thousands of people crowded onto Parliament Hill to mark the event known as 4/20, an annual rally calling for the legalization of marijuana.      Photograph by: Chris Roussakis