October 17, 2018 is not a day for celebration, as Canada is vastly ill-prepared for such an enormous change in public policy.   On that day, Canada breaks with long-standing international drug prevention partners, including the United States. Canada walks away from the three UN Drug Conventions, as violates articles within The Rights of the Child Treaty.  In response, concerned citizens rally under the banner – “A Grey Balloon Day For Canada “- Legal Marijuana is Nothing To Celebrate.

Concern focuses on the issue of second-hand marijuana smoke exposure in the home, the long list of marijuana harms to health, and the serious problem of drugged driving.  In addition, people who live in multi-unit buildings must give up their right to breathe clean, healthy air.

Organizers suggest that sympathetic readers replace their Facebook picture with the grey balloon, to

The grey balloon theme is in response to the expected “pot party” that will take center stage across the country, as tens if not hundreds of thousands of pot revellers choose to celebrate the day. They will wave the Canada cannabis flags, smoke their drug of choice in public parks and on public streets, and will be heard chanting, as they have in the past, “Overgrow Canada and Free the Weed”.

_{The new legal regime will result in more smoking in the homes of Canadian children, more adult modelling of drug use, greater access and cheaper product, further normalization and commercialization. All of which will create more damage.}

“There are certain things that law-abiding people are entitled not to have normalised; not to have their children see; not have to struggle against alone without the law on their side. And that’s especially important for the poorest and most marginalised communities.”

“In theory, legalisation should mean no more illegal supply – after all, why go to some guy down an alleyway when you could go to a licensed outlet with unadulterated products sold in standard units? In practice, it’s more complicated than that – as America’s opioid epidemic proves beyond doubt. Far from pushing out the pushers, the over-prescription of entirely legal opioid-based medications has created new opportunities for them. By expanding the size and the demographic diversity of the opioid dependent population, the legal trade has expanded the market for illegal opioids including heroin.” – Peter Franklin

Ref: https://unherd.com/2018/09/absurdity-legalising-drugs/

Pamela McColl – Canada:  pam.mccoll@cleartheairnow.org