Canada is transitioning into cannabis being a legal product. By changing the law, the government is admitting the war on cannabis was a failed experiment, In trying to control moral judgement with criminal law. The real victims of prohibition, the people arrested and jailed for its crimes, deserve not only an apology but also a relief from the burden set upon them, the label of being a criminal. Legalization requires amnesty.

Cannabis amnesty is essential to restore balance to disproportionately enforced drug laws on marginalized communities and especially communities of colour. We have all come to terms with historic cannabis law being irrational, and restoring those communities most harshly affected is a critical goal of legalization.

As a lifelong Conservative, I support NDP member’s Murray Rankin's private member's bill and urge the Liberal government to adopt this bill as government legislation. We need to help the over half million affected Canadians get their life back on track, without the burden of a criminal record for minor possession holding them back — we need to focus on violent and dangerous criminals

As a Liberal who has worked at the highest levels of the Party both federally and at Queen's Park, I urge the federal government to adopt Murray Rankin's private member's bill as government legislation. As we approach October 17th it's important to recognize that racialized and indigenous communities are overrepresented amongst those incarcerated for simple cannabis possession in this country. It's time to address this injustice.

It was 49 years ago that Canada began the process of legalizing marijuana by establishing an inquiry into the non-medical use of drugs... To restore some faith in justice among the tens of thousands of people convicted the decent thing to do would be an amnesty. That is long overdue. 

Amnesty for simple possession of cannabis is the next logical step in the legalization movement in Canada.

Amnesty for non-violent cannabis offences is a direct and fair way to improve the well-being of the thousands of Canadians who have been harmed by decades of bad policies. It's also an important step in healing the injuries caused by the war on cannabis.

Government needs to write policy that is right for Canadians. To wait until existing laws are repealed and replaced lacks vision, and disproportionately affects minority communities. If the government is moving forward, Canadians deserve the right to as well.

As a former British Columbia Health Minister I am an ardent supporter of policies that improve public health, including the legalization of a well regulated cannabis industry. Marginalized and racialized groups have been disproportionately affected by the enforcement of drug prohibition, and many cannabis law reform advocates have been criminalized for activism that paved the way for our legal cannabis industry.

The opportunity to play sports is something no youth should have stripped from them. Yet data shows that minor possession charges have disproportionately affected minority youth, specifically African-Canadians and Indigenous youth, limiting opportunities for jobs, participation in sports, travel, and much more. Although this is not a statement supporting youth drug use, it is one meant to raise awareness of government legislation in regards to cannabis law: Criminal records for minor drug possession prohibits participation in sports for the youth who likely need it most.