First Day of Legal Cannabis in Canada
By koopharper
@koopharper (7477)
Canada
October 17, 2018 4:54pm CST
They were still lined up outside the new Cannabis NB dispensary in town when I got home from work. Evidently, this new reality is very popular with a lot of people. The evening will likely be pretty quiet even in town. Doesn't really have any effect on my life.
I do have a number of friends who use it for pain management and for that I have no objection. I have witnessed first hand the difference it makes for some of them. Better yet they can grow their own and save a little money now as well. I don't see any reason for big pharma to benefit from all this.
On the other hand, I know a lot more people who use it recreationally and no I don't approve. Before you bring in comparisons with alcohol, I don't approve of getting drunk either.
I'm a little sick of all the press surrounding it, but I would love to hear what my friends in the myLot community think of all this.
23 people like this
22 responses
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
17 Oct 18
No need to judge anyone using it. There are legitimate concerns about widespread uncontrolled usage. I have a son with schizophrenia. Cannabis is known to make that condition worse. For people who are borderline and don't know it, the experience might not go very well.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
17 Oct 18
@amadeo No need anymore. You can happily figure it out on your own. I'm hoping people have better judgment when making those kinds of decisions. The line up in front of the store tells me a great deal of that better judgment went out the window.
@amadeo (111948)
• United States
17 Oct 18
@koopharper This is something need to discuss with doctors there?
2 people like this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
17 Oct 18
My main objection to recreational use is that it is known to make some conditions like schizophrenia worse and that wasn't even mentioned to the public through the whole lead up to this.
3 people like this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
17 Oct 18
@DWDavis I was with a couple of guys who'd had a few tokes. It was extremely humid out and the sound of the train passing about a block away from us had them completely freaking out.
2 people like this
@stringer321 (5643)
• Kiryat Ata, Israel
18 Oct 18
I think it is time to allow to use canabis, it looks like it has more benefit on health, pain, it can be cheap, I know it can make people feel high and less aware to their environment, but, it is up to the users how to use it. If someone use it the wrong way, that's his fault.
Maybe the conventional medical services just want to own it to get paid for that, or to offer expensive addictive medicine instead.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
19 Oct 18
Proven health benefits and inexpensive, we don't get those kinds of deals very often. As with anything though we have to behave responsibly and I don't think that was emphasized enough while this was all being rolled out here.
Yes, one of the biggest opponents has been the pharmaceutical industry. I don't feel bad about them making a little bit less money as a result.
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
19 Oct 18
@stringer321 Now that it's legal hopefully that research will accomplish more. A lot of doctors here don't know much about how it works. You'll probably get better information from the people who've been using it illegally for years.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
19 Oct 18
@stringer321 That's my preference not to have to take anything at all. Right now I'm still at that point.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
18 Oct 18
I don't understand why a person would need to use it if there wasn't a medical reason.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
18 Oct 18
@LadyDuck And for-profit our government is capitalizing on that. I'm really not cool with that.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
19 Oct 18
@LadyDuck Maybe they're just waiting to see how the experiment goes in my country.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
18 Oct 18
I have heard that the rate of traffic accidents went up in Colorado. Don't remember who told me that. Might have been someone at work. It is illegal to use it not just while operating a vehicle here, you can't even just sit in your car parked on your own property using it. Hopefully, that will be enough to deter would be impaired drivers.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
19 Oct 18
@cintol I remember in southern California no one knew how to control a skid. They were losing control on wet roads from rain like we Canadian lose control when we're surprised by black ice. Didn't realize so many were moving there.
1 person likes this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
19 Oct 18
@koopharper Could be but I don't think its from the pot, so many were smoking it there before it went legal. There are just so many people moving there from states who don't get snow or ice and they have no clue how to drive in it. I was watching the traffic on this first snow storm of the season and many pile ups on the roads.
Wow, not in your car on your property, hopefully your right and that will deter them from getting in the car with it.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85332)
• Bangalore, India
18 Oct 18
Cannabis grows wild in my native place and there are no rules and laws about it. Many people use it as an addiction. There are many cases of mental disorders reported due to overuse of it in long run.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
18 Oct 18
It is proven to make schizophrenia worse and at least one person I know gets quite paranoid when he's a little bit stoned. Like anything, it can be overused. It does cause physical and mental impairment so operating a motor vehicle would be a bad thing.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
19 Oct 18
@arunima25 Different people react differently. Two of my coworkers use it for pain management and they are just fine. One of the others goes right paranoid and I kind of wish he'd just stay away from the stuff. One of the lady painters on our job site can't use it for her pain because while it manages the pain it throws her sense of balance out of whack. It's worth trying if you have severe chronic pain but it might not be the answer.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85332)
• Bangalore, India
19 Oct 18
@koopharper I have seen people going paranoid after consumption of cannabis. It is good as a medicine but overuse has scary complications.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (170025)
• United States
17 Oct 18
I think if used responsibily there is not a problem with it.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (170025)
• United States
17 Oct 18
@koopharper I guess we will have to see what happens. I think Colorado where it is legal, is doing OK, but I think they have had an increase in traffic accidents.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
17 Oct 18
"If used responsibly" is the key here. I'm hoping that there will be a short wave of irresponsible use over the next couple of days and then responsibility will kick in. I just know there are people who will take this way too far just because they can.
1 person likes this
@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
25 Jan 19
I'm not a recreational user, I prefer to keep my wits about me, and I'm no bible-thumping christian either LOL
I take cannabis oil that has THC and CBD in it for pain, helping me sleep at night, and for anxiety. I just take a wee bit most days under the tongue. So 1 30ml bottle...I had it for 3 months now, still some in it so I'm in the 4th month now. I didn't go near those shops on the 17th, though, being around crowds kinda makes me nervous so I waited a few days after.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
27 Jan 19
Glad you found a form that benefits you. In New Brunswick here the store actually ran out for a while. Very embarrassing moment for government people who thought they knew how to run it all.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (48434)
• Mojave, California
21 Oct 18
I say just legalize it and be done with it. No story then. Hell, sometimes I forget its legal in California. It is causing us so many problems because pot is legal now, said no one ever that I heard.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
21 Oct 18
I'm glad they chose to do it nationwide here instead of one province at a time. Each province has their own distribution system but at least you don't have to worry about traveling in another province and the rules being different. We'll see what the longterm consequences are as we go. One issue for now in the Canada/USA border another is people who live in a non-smoking apartment who need it for medicinal purposes (You can't smoke it in public places, so where are you going to go?).
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
21 Oct 18
@crossbones27 Either decision on this issue is better than confusion. We have enough confusion on somethings here in Canada.
@Jackalyn (7559)
• Oxford, England
18 Oct 18
It helps some multiple sclerosis sufferers, and also some with epilepsy. The moment it becomes legal here I am getting it for my 87 year old father. On the other hand, I have another family member addicted, so I do not approve, except for medicinal purposes.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
18 Oct 18
The medicinal benefits are undeniable but I don't that should be cause for throwing caution to the wind. It does have a downside.
1 person likes this
@xander6464 (40884)
• Wapello, Iowa
18 Oct 18
With all things considered, the price of prohibition is just not worth it.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
18 Oct 18
@xander6464 Nobody has promised it but it is implied in the background.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
18 Oct 18
Enforcing the old law was expensive. The planes and helicopters were overflying the bush where I live all the time because they were trying to detect it. A lot of money was spent pursuing minor offenses in court as well. The new situation should theoretically put money in the government coffers. Unfortunately, I don't think that means I will start paying less taxes anytime soon.
1 person likes this
@xander6464 (40884)
• Wapello, Iowa
18 Oct 18
@koopharper The less taxes promise is always a scam. As far as I can tell, anyway.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
19 Oct 18
@Inlemay We'll see if it's any different this morning. Maybe this will be the new norm.
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
19 Oct 18
@koopharper strange indeed, when you discover the reason for the change, let us know. Viva Canabus so they say. Ha ha
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
17 Oct 18
Not in favour of recreational cannabis, don't mind a drink, but certainly wouldn't dream of getting drunk. We'll watch and see how it plays out.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
17 Oct 18
I enjoy a drink now and then myself. Must be something similar in our upbringing.
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
17 Oct 18
@koopharper can't imagine why there'd be a similarity.
1 person likes this
@hillhjill (23664)
• United States
17 Oct 18
I think that it's great for the people that need it for there pain etc, but just to do it to get high is another story. I use to smoke back in the day but today I don't. My husband can get it tho for his condition after he gets a medical weed card.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
17 Oct 18
Pretty much where I stand on the subject. I have at least four friends who use it moderately for pain management. They are able to go to work and function. All other painkillers they tried would need to be taken in doses that left them unable to do anything useful. For them, it is a big win and I'm happy for them. It doesn't work for everyone though. Spoke to a woman just the other day who tried it and found that she could do everything except walk without falling down and that wasn't good enough. Never heard of that reaction in anyone else.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
17 Oct 18
@hillhjill In those situations, it can't be beaten.
1 person likes this
@hillhjill (23664)
• United States
17 Oct 18
@koopharper That is how my husband is, he can smoke and be just fine and do his daily activities.
1 person likes this
@maezee (41997)
• United States
18 Oct 18
Interesting. Here in minnesota it is still illegal but cops are slowly decriminalizing it. I don’t use it but know folks who do, but I feel indifferent about that. On the other hand, the government is going to make a ton of money in taxes!
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
19 Oct 18
I think there has been a steady shift in the US to make it legal. Most people have no real objection to its medicinal use and the general public is getting less resistant to recreational use as well.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
18 Oct 18
Using it where you aren't affecting anyone else, I won't kick up a fuss about. I just don't see the point if you don't have any medical reason for using it. I don't know of any other benefit.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
18 Oct 18
I think that is where most people stand. I'm glad that there are no real barriers to its use for medical purposes but it ended up getting heavily promoted for recreational use.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95261)
• Marion, Ohio
18 Oct 18
I have no problem with it being used as long as it is responsibly.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
18 Oct 18
I hope the "responsibly" part eventually becomes the norm. There isn't much sign of that at this point.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
18 Oct 18
I think it should be easily available to those who need it for medical purposes but that isn't how and why this was all done. Our government has gone into business selling it to make money for themselves. So I don't have to pay for this new "tax" and it will create some jobs. My problem with it is that it has been widely promoted for recreational use and that is where I have an objection.
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
17 Oct 18
This will be a tax cash cow for the government.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
17 Oct 18
Precisely. This has little to do with helping people. It's about money.
1 person likes this
