2 years after legalizing cannabis, has Canada kept its promises?
By Ian Austen New York Times,Updated January 23, 2021, 4:38 p.m.
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Patrons of a marijuana store in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2018.ALANA PATERSON/NYT
OTTAWA, Ontario â When Robert was 18, he was arrested by Montrealâs police for possession of a small amount of hashish, an event that would upend his young life.
The charge brought him 30 days in jail, and the conviction ended his part-time job as a translator.
âBack then, you smoke a joint, you would get arrested,â said Robert, who asked that only his first name be used because of the continuing stigma of his criminal record. âThen the cops would put you in a car, then pull over and give you a couple of shots in the head. You get slapped around just because of smoking.â