Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau with wife Sophie and children. Photo: Facebook.
Justin Trudeau has ignited public debate over marijuana laws
Whoa, dude, Justin Trudeau smokes pot! Yeah, him and most of Parliament by the sound of it. Including the MP I worked for back in the early 1990s.
Marijuana is considered by many Canadians to be just like beer and wine.
Have to admit, it was a bit of a shocker when my new employer picked me up at the Ottawa airport that raw spring day in 1990 and on the way to the hotel pulled a bag and papers from his pocket, and started rolling a joint. He caught my look of surprise.
“Get over it,” he said. “Your boss smokes a bit of weed now and then. Takes the edge off. Want some?”
I declined. Not because I’m a prude or worried about breaking the law. Back in 1974 a hip couple from California introduced me to the evil weed and being high was no big deal. A joint, a six pack of beer and some Pink Floyd on the platter made for a nice Saturday evening back in the day.
But by the time the NDP MP for Prince Albert-Churchill River offered to share his doobie I was a father in my early 30s with two young children. I was responsible and I wanted to set a good example for my kids. Aside from the odd beer I didn’t drink much, either. Being a good dad was my first priority, so I kept to the straight and narrow.
That was my decision. I think it was the right one. Both my adult children have hinted that they appreciate my conservative lifestyle during their childhood, that it influenced them for the better as they were growing up.
These days my drug of choice is the odd glass of white wine with friends or beers with the Beacon gang when I’m in Calgary. Still pretty conservative, I guess.
Would I accept a joint if it was offered to me? I might.
Famous Canadian comedian Tommy Chong has long been an advocate for the legalization of marijuana.
The times have changed. Canadians, for the most part, think of pot as just another way to unwind like beer or wine.
But I might not accept it. I’ve reached that stage in my life where reality isn’t all that bad and I’m not looking for new ways to unwind or get wrecked or escape the shittiness of my temporal existence.
But I wouldn’t object if you lit up.
My live and let live attitude toward pot is the new norm, I think. Beacon readers seem to share it. When asked about Justin Trudeau and his pot smoking, the small and large-C conservatives were more concerned about the Liberal leader’s flaunting of the laws of the land than they were about reefer madness.
Here is their take on Trudeau fils’ dope smoking:
John Wheeler, Calgary, Alta.: “I think it’s nice to hear some honesty, outlawing Mother Nature is never a good idea, and most people I know either puff them selves are have no problem with it at all. No one has ever died from weed, or beat their wife and kids. Much safer than alcohol , tobacco and prescription drugs.”
John Hilton-O’brien, Calgary, Alta.: “Clinton said he tried pot, but didn’t inhale. Trudeau? He didn’t exhale.”
Lev Jackson, Richmond, BC: “His comment about how more people will be shocked he doesn’t drink coffee caught my eye as well, showing just how paper thin the pot laws truly are. Though he is saying legalization is the way to go, my opinion is there has to be a clear line between recreational use and those who truly have a medical need for it.”
Bruce Bonham, Ancaster, Ont.: “A non-issue for me. I mean, he did break the law, but I think the law is probably outdated anyway. Has nothing to do with running for politics, except for the fact he has made it his own personal political issue. Big deal. I don’t care one way or the other.”
Susan Berger Thompson, Surrey, BC: “I see both sides here. Yes, it is illegal, therefore he probably should not have been doing it while an MP. Kind of a bad judgement call. On the other hand, it’s such a non-drug drug. Haven’t most of us tried it? I smoked a few times in my youth and once about 14 or so years ago.”
Sue White, Calgary, Alta.: “The majority of people I talk to fully believe that pot should be legal but if any of them dared to use it and admit like Justin has they risk losing their jobs, their families and their freedom.”
Bryan L. Taylor, Calgary, Alta.: “Time to legalize….and if you think that Justin is the only MP who has smoked pot in the past three years…hmmmm…well, I have some great riverfront property here in Calgary for you…”
Tammy Johnston, Calgary, Alta.: “Yes, he broke the law. Do I care about it, NO! While I personally have no interest in marijuana I know tons of fine, hard working, respectable people that do smoke pot. I also don’t drink, and know tons of fine, hard working, respectable people that do drink. I know of tons of people that have been hurt or killed because of impaired driving. I know tons of people that have been in fights, abused, and otherwise [been] in trouble because of alcohol. I know of no one that has ever done anything more than be dopey happy and eat a lot of junk food while high. ”
Ron Wood, Calgary, Alta.: “I don’t care what he smoked but I think it speaks volumes about his political acumen and maturity that he’d be so fulsome about it. With this admission he makes it clear he thinks he is above the law, that socializing with friends and keeping them comfortable is a priority over principles and the law.”
Deb Solberg, Calgary, Alta.: “I was there when a young farmer was taken to jail (in front of his wife and sons) for selling his own wheat. Against the law. They didn’t get to choose which laws they kept. And they weren’t MPs.”
Daryl Makk, Calgary, Alta.: “The law was wrong to exist. Prohibition is the work of assholes.”
Michael Spears, Calgary, Alta.: “He can choose to present new legislation when he is working as an MP, but to choose to break current laws as an MP is seriously wrong. Regardless of the issue, this should be seen as a problem to him being a real leader of government.”
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