Will Canada and Mexico Have to Bow to the UN Before They Can Legalize Marijuana? Joe Klare - The Libertarian Republic
go to original January 16, 2016

The countries of Canada and Mexico may have to plead their case before the mighty United Nations if they wish to legalize marijuana, lest they violate several international conventions that govern the global war on drugs.

This information comes from a briefing note received by new Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau’s Liberal Party came to power late last year and part of their platform involves the legalization of cannabis nationwide.

“As part of examining legalization of cannabis possession and production, Canada will need to explore how to inform the international community and will have to take the steps needed to adjust its obligations under these conventions,” said the note, prepared for Trudeau by his staff.

This informing will apparently take place at the big special session that is scheduled at The United Nations in New York in April. There Canada, and several other countries, will have to make their case to the UN for legalization. Mexico will presumably have to follow this route as well if they plan on legalizing, something legislators there will start debating later this month.

While I understand the purpose of treaties, one has to wonder how the treaties in question will be enforced; treaties that the Trudeau government didn’t sign in the first place. Let’s say Canada doesn’t bow to the UN and legalizes marijuana anyway; what happens then? Will the UN recommend sanctions? If so, will the United States support that considering the fact that the federal government is currently taking a hands-off approach to state legalization here at home? Would the feds support sanctions over something they are allowing states to experiment with?

It’s very unlikely, and without U.S. support, what exactly in the UN going to do? Invade Canada? With what, the blue-helmeted peacekeepers? Even more unlikely.

Read the rest at The Libertarian Republic

Related: Yes, Pot Is Stronger Today, But Not for the Reasons You Think (The Los Angeles Times)

Related: Legalizing Pot Undermines the War on Hard-Core Drugs, General Says (Military Times)

Graphic: CBS

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