Yeah, because that has been so effective in keeping cigarettes and alcohol out of the hands of minors.

If it alleviates pain, then more power to people, like Rebecca, who are helped by it, especially when dealing with extreme pain. I am sure our 'representatives' (who I have little respect for nowadays) would do the same if they were in pain.

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I would say cigarettes are more heavily regulated nowadays than they have been in the past. There is a downward trend in teenage smokers in Canada. For example, between 2001 and 2011, the % of smokers in the age group 12 to 14 fell from about 5% to around 2%. Over the same period the % of smokers in the age group of 15 to 17 fell from around 20% to 10%.(source: link)

We will never be entirely able to keep these things out hand of minors, however regulation does seem to be a sensible approach to trying to tackle the problem. The previous approach of prohibition failed to keep cannabis out of the hands of the young, allowed zero regulation of what was being widely used, brought in zero tax revenue and gifted a multi-billion-dollar enterprise into the hands of the black market.

As I said, I can see valid arguments on both sides of the issue. I'm not pro-cannabis, I don't personally use it, but I know that lots of people do and the previous legal stance didn't seem to be stopping anyone. I am concerned about people driving under the influence and about just the general stink of the stuff, but can see the benefits in actually getting some regulation in place and bringing it out of the black market and into the regular economy.

Anti-drug laws do bring in revenue. They do this by fines against people who break the laws.

I had other kids come up to me a say I stunk (may have been because I didn't wash - I jest).

I didn't realise how much I stunk until I had moved out and was visited by my brother, who also didn't smoke. I collected him from the train in my car. He got in and the entire car suddenly stunk of smoke.

I cannot stand the smell of weed. It's horrible. But I have noticed more and more that as I walk around, I can smell weed in more and more places. I now take a tram to work and the number of times people get on and there is a waft of the smell following them around.

Medicinal use is one thing. I dread a massive expansion of recreational use.

Mind you, talking to various people I know if universities, they have noticed a massive decrease in alcohol consumption by students and are pretty sure the reason is increased drug taking.