• Information Technology
  • Human Resources
  • Careers
  • Giving
  • Library
  • Bookstore
  • Active Living
  • Continuing Education
  • Go Dinos
  • UCalgary Maps
  • UCalgary Directory
  • Academic Calendar
My UCalgary
Webmail
D2L
ARCHIBUS
IRISS
  • Faculty of Arts
  • Cumming School of Medicine
  • Faculty of Environmental Design
  • Faculty of Graduate Studies
  • Haskayne School of Business
  • Faculty of Kinesiology
  • Faculty of Law
  • Faculty of Nursing
  • Faculty of Nursing (Qatar)
  • Schulich School of Engineering
  • Faculty of Science
  • Faculty of Social Work
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
  • Werklund School of Education
  • Information TechnologiesIT
  • Human ResourcesHR
  • Careers
  • Giving
  • Library
  • Bookstore
  • Active Living
  • Continuing Education
  • Go Dinos
  • UCalgary Maps
  • UCalgary Directory
  • Academic Calendar
  • Libraries and Cultural Resources
View Item 
  •   PRISM Home
  • School of Public Policy
  • Master of Public Policy Capstone Projects
  • View Item
  •   PRISM Home
  • School of Public Policy
  • Master of Public Policy Capstone Projects
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Prohibition vs. Legalization of Marijuana: The Canadian Context on Legalization Policy

Thumbnail
Download
Stock, Michelle.pdf (12.40Mb)
Download Record
Download to EndNote/RefMan (RIS)
Download to BibTex
Advisor
McKenzie, Kenneth
Author
Stock, Michelle
Accessioned
2016-09-30T18:29:58Z
Available
2016-09-30T18:29:58Z
Issued
2014-09
Type
report
Metadata
Show full item record

Abstract
Prohibitive drug laws have been in place for over 100 years yet a global movement is emerging that argues that criminalization is a poor policy option to address the War on Drugs. Cannabis is one of the most widely used illegal drugs worldwide with roughly 4% of the global adult population being illegal drug users. Prohibition has resulted in the creation of illegal markets, and produced greater negative consequences associated with controlling the production, distribution and consumption of the product. Another issue is the effect that prohibition has on government spending in terms of enforcement costs, court costs, and incarceration. As of 2012, the cost of keeping an inmate incarcerated in Canada is $117,000. Roughly $1 billion is spent annually on drug enforcement in Canada. Policies supporting the prohibition of marijuana are based in large part on the notion that consuming marijuana is both a public safety concern, and detrimental to an individual's health, yet there is little research to back this up. From a revenue standpoint, Canada is losing out on a large amount of money that could go to better serve our population rather than remain in the hands of an illegal market. In the last six months the success of legalization in Colorado has legitimized the notion that Canada should act on reforming its marijuana policy. Although there are some minor health implications if marijuana were to be legalized, it is far less detrimental when compared to alcohol and tobacco consumption. This paper recommends that marijuana be legalized and regulated in Canada. Taxing marijuana at multiple stages can produce a large amount of revenue for the federal and provincial governments. Mandatory licensing for cultivators and retailers will ensure effective regulation. From a tax policy perspective, Canada has the potential to generate between $4 to $8 billion dollars in revenue.
Refereed
Yes
Citation
Stock, Michelle. (2014). Prohibition vs. Legalization of Marijuana: The Canadian Context on Legalization Policy ( Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.
Department
The School of Public Policy
Faculty
Faculty of Graduate Studies
Institution
University of Calgary
Doi
http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/30071
Uri
http://hdl.handle.net/1880/51651
Collections
  • Graduate Capstones
  • Master of Public Policy Capstone Projects

Browse

All of PRISMCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

My Account

LoginRegister

Download Results

Statistics

Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

  • Email
  • SMS
  • 403.220.8895
  • Live Chat

Energize: The Campaign for Eyes High

Privacy Policy
Website feedback

University of Calgary
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, AB T2N 1N4
CANADA

Copyright © 2017