Media Analysis

Media Analysis
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Media Analysis
Canada has seen frequent raids on marijuana dispensaries in the recent past with heated debates over the legality of the substance. After it’s legalization in 2001 for medical purposes, the patients were warranted to growing the plant by themselves or would access through a designated cultivator. In 2013, however, the court challenged the same processes of Marihuana for medicals purposes regulations (MMPR). Last year, a new bill that aimed to curb the circulation of the illicit drug was drafted. However, it is to be effected in July this year, 2018. The process of legislation of bill C-45 leaves the drug illegal except in the situation a physician prescribes it. However, the law leaves a gap where the different provinces can decide about its legality in the different regions. On the other hand, various dispensaries have faced many attacks, yet the legitimacy ultimately depends on the province. How just are these raids?
According to Benzie (2017), the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, which controls Ontario’s cannabis retail cooperation (OCRC), has recently made it public that some municipalities in Ontario will open recreational marijuana sites. The system will allow up to 50 shops to open by 2020. The changes leave the OCRC a leeway of monopoly in the market, with huge fines on any other unauthorized dispensary. Furthermore, the law permits that the substance will be consumed by adults only, with each having an average of four plants in their homes.

In that case, it allows consumption in private dwellings alone, prohibiting it in public venues and vehicles.
Hanger (2017) reveals that some of the dispensaries have shifted to hidden locations. From a conversation with Neev Tapiero, who owns CALM (Cannabis as Living Medicine), he openly discloses the dire consequences that the persistent raids would cause on the clients. The clients are those with terminal diseases such as HIV/AIDS, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries. The persistent clients were most likely to get to illegal sources if the raids last, as the police promise. Furthermore, the attacks are taking place without the assurance that the law enforcers are ready to deal with the unpredictable outcomes.
Gray (2017) discloses the presence of many facts to question the justice behind the crackdown on the shops. Firstly, there are some shops which reopen soon after the operations seize. Is it possible that there are down deals behind their process? Furthermore, some of the responsible perpetrators of the crime have had their charges dropped, in the absence of a follow-up. The events have led to the recent rise of the legal battles, some challenging the validity of the constitution. In the same article, Mayor John Tory questions the importance of enacting laws that people break knowingly and repeatedly. However, he supports the measures to stop the illicit supply of the drug. On the other hand, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau foresees a positive economic impact, since he expects a drop in the prices of the marijuana. He proposed that there be a shared tax, with a portion submitted to the federal state. His opinions seem to obtain financial influence instead of the unpredicted outcomes that will emerge from the sudden law enforcement.
The Public’s Opinions
Mr. Fraga realizes that the law permits the formation of by-laws concerning the drug, before the December 2018 hearing. There is the chance that the regulation at the moment may take whichever way, depending on the provincial administration. Professor Alan Young further realizes that if the anticipated court case is won, charges placed between February 2016 and the date will be faced out (Gray, 2017). Regina’s chief police, Bray, insists on executing raids more frequently. She further warns that the clients who consume the substance yet lack a prescription we liable to facing the law (Pot luck running out: Bray says dispensary busts possible at any time, 2017).
Martin (2017) notes that the York leaders were against the suggested marihuana stores. They felt that there was no need of trying the new option first, yet there were fears of unknown repercussions. Furthermore, Bevilacqua felt that there were insufficient resources to sufficiently facilitate the implementation of the law. Barrow expressed the committee’s discontent with the legalization of marijuana shops when she said that it lacked interest in the matter.
Owners’ opinions
According to Craggs (2017), Mr. Stupak, who uses the drug for mental related issues, realized that he had faced several arrests but had the charges dropped when he fought back. Despite being convicted severally, he states that the consumption of the substance is so typical that it appears as though it is legal. He quotes figures of up to 2,000 people whom he accesses through his shop, which is far from serving recreational reasons. Therefore, the drug is in the supply of a large number of citizens, who need it. Cutting the supply chains would abruptly be unfair to the many clients who cannot do without it.
Hnager (2017) discloses that the dispensary owners will have to lay off their lawyers among other employees to meet the challenge. In fact, Christine Duhaime reports that she has already received contact that request aid in corporate reinvention. That marks an early alert over the expectation on the other steps that seem to be already loose. In the same article, Mr. Tousaw suggests that the raid will be tough on alcohol sellers if those on cannabis will face further reinforcement. Despite the closure of the dispensaries, Don Briere, who owns seven if the shops, states that he will have to reopen. How else would he be courageous if not for the sake of his clients?
Kirk Tousaw, who is a lawyer acting voluntarily in defense of a dispensary, expresses that involving the Canadians in deciding about the state of the government concerning the crackdown would reveal discontent. In fact, he says that the people would reject the action (Gray, 2017). His opinion is valid since the citizens have supreme power over decisions that concern them in the same constitution. Guerra, who owns a clinic looks forward to imposing a tax on both the recreational and medical uses. She suggests a variation in the level of taxation but insists that the opinion does not sideline the sick (Craggs, 2017).
The politics around public order
The public order of the nation suggests failed justice in the system and the law, with some of the illegal shop owners shifting to hidden places instead of stopping the business. On the other hand, some of the business owners reveal that they do not regret the several arrests they have faced and are willing to keep using the drug regardless of the law. There might as well be down deals since the attacks reported in some shops as robberies had delays from the police. Guerra notes that the value of life is unmeasurable (Local dispensary owners allege rise in violent robberies at pot shops, 2017). The article further notes that the police had no records of the past burglaries, yet it was their role to avail those statistics.
The lack of unity among the leaders shows a gap between the government and the leaders in Canada. The fact that the importance of the December 2018 case was above any other issue at hand ought to have enabled the system to identify the significance and facilitate quick hearings. It would have no meaning to charge the victims of illicit substance abuse, yet the same laws have a chance of being revised following a court hearing. The entire state of politics around the public’s order in Canada seems to be in tragedy, with the law on the loose end. The matter requires a careful approach since the consequences are not yet known. However, the future of the issue depends on the cooperation of the citizens and the state’s steps to taking action.
Conclusion
The main aim of the law enforcement actions is to curb illegal distribution of the drugs to cartels and reduce the crime rates related to the drug. Indeed, lowering the price of the drug by availing it will reduce the cost, thereby stopping the cartels from distributing it. Despite the fact that the raids on the shops before the July law enforcement seems right to the government, it has direct impacts on many patients. There is the chance that the patients terminally ill will face challenges in accessing the ‘medicine,’ hence opting for worse illegal sources. Some of the actions such as the arrests made in a hospital facility are also unacceptable in the eye of the public. Moreover, it is meaningless that some of the arrested are released without facing any charges. That action questions the legitimacy of the raids on dispensaries.
References
Benzie, R. (2017). LCBO announces first 14 cities to have legal recreational marijuana shops. The Star. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/11/03/lcbo-announces-first-14-cities-to-have-legal-recreational-marijuana-shops.htmlCraggs, S. (2017). City looks for new ways to crack down on Hamilton pot dispensaries. CBC News. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/city-task-force-marijuana-1.3948194Gray, J. (2017). Holes emerge in Toronto’s crackdown on marijuana dispensaries. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/holes-emerge-in-torontos-crackdown-on-marijuana-dispensaries/article36678516/Hanger, M. (2017). As legalization looms, Toronto marijuana dispensaries aim to evade scrutiny. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/a-year-after-crackdown-toronto-marijuana-dispensaries-try-to-evade-threats/article34759101/Local dispensary owners allege rise in violent robberies at pot shops. (2017). CBC News. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/marijuana-dispensary-1.4479249Martin, S. (2017). East Gwillimbury joins Richmond Hill and Markham in rejecting a legalized marijuana shop. The star. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/12/13/east-gwillimbury-joins-richmond-hill-and-markham-in-rejecting-a-legalized-marijuana-shop.htmlPot luck running out: Bray says dispensary busts possible at any time. (2017). Regina Leader-Post. Retrieved from http://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/the-law-has-not-yet-changed-police-chief-re-sends-warning-to-weed-dispensaries