Parliament has now broken for Christmas break and our leaders will be back at it in Ottawa in late January.
Before rising, the House of Commons officially passed Bill C-45, The Cannabis Act. The Bill has now moved to the Senate where it will go through debate, study in a Senate Committee, and voting in the new year. We wanted to ensure that this important development did not get lost in the holiday business.
Click here to see how your MP voted.
Please click here to send an e-mail to your MP regarding their vote.
We heard from MPs and Senators alike during our November delegation that the Senate is where this bill might be stopped or held up.
IT IS NOW CRITICAL THAT WE CONTACT SENATORS
What this all means is that we now need to contact our senators regarding this issue and any concerns we have (please see points below). Please take a moment over the holidays to draft a communication from your heart and send it to the Senators in your province.
When we stand together we really can make a difference.
A Note About Form Letters: It is easiest for all of us to simply copy and paste a form letter. HOWEVER Parliamentarians have consistently told us that this is not always effective. Form letters often get disregarded. A personal e-mail, with a few key points, is much more effective.
Below you will find some key information that may be helpful to include in drafting a correspondence. Also, please scroll down to find the e-mail addresses of Senators in your province.
Thank you for taking action.
WHERE C-45 FALLS SHORT:
Some of the problems with Bill C-45 and the legalization of marijuana that you may wish to mention include (choose 3-4 to mention to Senators):
▪ The government claims the intention of this bill is to keep marijuana out of the hands of children, but under Bill C-45, 12-18 year olds are allowed to posses up to 5 grams of marijuana.
▪ Experts have suggested 21-25 as the minimum age for marijuana use, but Bill C-45 puts 18 as the minimum age of use.
▪ Police Associations have said they do not have the resources or training to handle legalization and have asked the government to postpone legalization.
▪ Each home will be able to have up to 4 plants.
▪ Some provinces have complained they can't be ready to implement and enforce the legislation by July 1st.
▪ Levels of THC (mind-altering chemical) in contemporary marijuana is several times higher than it once was.
▪ Prenatal cannabis exposure is associated with fetal growth restriction and learning disabilities.
▪ Studies show cannabis has significant health impacts on youth, including irreversible brain damage, marijuana smokers have an increased risk of cancer and lung disease.
▪ Cannabis use can result in psychotic episodes characterized by paranoia, delusions, hallucinations and frequent cannabis use has been associated with an increased risk of suicide, depression, anxiety disorders.
▪ The THC in cannabis can impair ability to drive safely.
| ▪ | The government claims the intention of this bill is to keep marijuana out of the hands of children, but under Bill C-45, 12-18 year olds are allowed to posses up to 5 grams of marijuana. |
| ▪ | Police Associations have said they do not have the resources or training to handle legalization and have asked the government to postpone legalization. |
| ▪ | Each home will be able to have up to 4 plants. |
| ▪ | Some provinces have complained they can't be ready to implement and enforce the legislation by July 1st. |
| ▪ | Levels of THC (mind-altering chemical) in contemporary marijuana is several times higher than it once was. |
| ▪ | Prenatal cannabis exposure is associated with fetal growth restriction and learning disabilities. |
| ▪ | Studies show cannabis has significant health impacts on youth, including irreversible brain damage, marijuana smokers have an increased risk of cancer and lung disease. |
| ▪ | Cannabis use can result in psychotic episodes characterized by paranoia, delusions, hallucinations and frequent cannabis use has been associated with an increased risk of suicide, depression, anxiety disorders. |
| ▪ | The THC in cannabis can impair ability to drive safely. |
WHAT TO DO:
1) PRAY:
Please pray:
▪ That people all across Canada who are opposed to the legalization of this drug would rise up and make their voices heard in this critical moment.
▪ That Senators and Members of Parliament would have a change of heart and mind when it comes to the rush to pass Bill C-45.
▪ That we would see a shift in our nation of young people rejecting marijuana and other drugs
▪ That the RCMP, local police and border patrol would have wisdom, discernment and divine strategy for combatting drug-use in our nation. * Please pray and ask the Lord what He would like you to do to be a voice on this issue. (Please feel free to share any strategy ideas with our team).
| ▪ | That people all across Canada who are opposed to the legalization of this drug would rise up and make their voices heard in this critical moment. |
| ▪ | That Senators and Members of Parliament would have a change of heart and mind when it comes to the rush to pass Bill C-45. |
| ▪ | That we would see a shift in our nation of young people rejecting marijuana and other drugs |
| ▪ | That the RCMP, local police and border patrol would have wisdom, discernment and divine strategy for combatting drug-use in our nation. * Please pray and ask the Lord what He would like you to do to be a voice on this issue. (Please feel free to share any strategy ideas with our team). |
2) CONTACT SENATORS:
We plan to contact the Senators of the committee tasked with studying C-45. Stay tuned for a follow-up e-blast on this. In the meantime, we encourage you to contact the Senators from your province.
(Scroll down for a sample letter to help you create yours.)
Senators by Province:
Please click on the paragraph pertaining to your province, or copy and paste the e-mails into a new e-mail. Feel free to send your e-mail to all provinces if you want.
ONTARIO
bob.runciman@sen.parl.gc.ca, senatorwhite@sen.parl.gc.ca, salma.ataullahjan@sen.parl.gc.ca, lynn.beyak@sen.parl.gc.ca, Gwen.Boniface@sen.parl.gc.ca, anne.cools@sen.parl.gc.ca, Tony.Dean@sen.parl.gc.ca, nicole.eaton@sen.parl.gc.ca, art.eggleton@sen.parl.gc.ca, linda.frum@sen.parl.gc.ca, peter.harder@sen.parl.gc.ca. colin.kenny@sen.parl.gc.ca, sabi.marwah@sen.parl.gc.ca, Frances.Lankin@sen.parl.gc.ca, don.meredith@sen.parl.gc.ca. Lucie.Moncion@sen.parl.gc.ca, jim.munson@sen.parl.gc.ca, thanhhai.ngo@sen.parl.gc.ca, senator.oh@sen.parl.gc.ca, Ratna.Omidvar@sen.parl.gc.ca, Kim.Pate@sen.parl.gc.ca, Howard.Wetston@sen.parl.gc.ca
BC
larry.campbell@sen.parl.gc.ca, mobina.jaffer@sen.parl.gc.ca, martin@sen.parl.gc.ca, richard.neufeld@sen.parl.gc.ca, nancy.raine@sen.parl.gc.ca, YuenPau.Woo@sen.parl.gc.ca
MANITOBA
Patricia.Bovey@sen.parl.gc.ca, Raymonde.Gagne@sen.parl.gc.ca, Marilou.McPhedran@sen.parl.gc.ca, don.plett@sen.parl.gc.ca, Senator.Sinclair@sen.parl.gc.ca
ALBERTA
doug.black@sen.parl.gc.ca, elaine.mccoy@sen.parl.gc.ca, grant.mitchell@sen.parl.gc.ca, scott.tannas@sen.parl.gc.ca, claudette.tardif@sen.parl.gc.ca, betty.unger@sen.parl.gc.ca
SASKATCHEWAN:
raynell.andreychuk@sen.parl.gc.ca, denise.batters@sen.parl.gc.ca, lillian.dyck@sen.parl.gc.ca, david.tkachuk@sen.parl.gc.ca, pamela.wallin@sen.parl.gc.ca
NEW BRUNSWICK:
Rene.Cormier@sen.parl.gc.ca, joseph.day@sen.parl.gc.ca, Nancy.Hartling@sen.parl.gc.ca, carol.smith@sen.parl.gc.ca, paul.mcintyre@sen.parl.gc.ca, percy.mockler@sen.parl.gc.ca, rosemay.poirier@sen.parl.gc.ca, David.Richards@sen.parl.gc.ca, pierrette.ringuette@sen.parl.gc.ca, SenatorStewartOlsen@sen.parl.gc.ca
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR:
norman.doyle@sen.parl.gc.ca, george.furey@sen.parl.gc.ca, fabian.manning@sen.parl.gc.ca, elizabeth.marshall@sen.parl.gc.ca, davidwells@sen.parl.gc.ca
NOVA SCOTIA:
WandaThomas.Bernard@sen.parl.gc.ca, daniel.christmas@sen.parl.gc.ca, jane.cordy@sen.parl.gc.ca, stephen.greene@sen.parl.gc.ca, michael.macdonald@sen.parl.gc.ca, thomasjohnson.mcinnis@sen.parl.gc.ca, terry.mercer@sen.parl.gc.ca
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND:
percy.downe@sen.parl.gc.ca, Michael.Duffy@sen.parl.gc.ca, Diane.Griffin@sen.parl.gc.ca
NUNAVUT:
dennis.patterson@sen.parl.gc.ca
QUEBEC:
diane.bellemare@sen.parl.gc.ca, celine.hervieux-payette@sen.parl.gc.ca, judith.seidman@sen.parl.gc.ca, paul.massicotte@sen.parl.gc.ca, joan.fraser@sen.parl.gc.ca, charlie.watt@sen.parl.gc.ca, serge.joyal@sen.parl.gc.ca, boisvp@sen.parl.gc.ca, dennis.dawson@sen.parl.gc.ca, claude.carignan@sen.parl.gc.ca, josee.verner@sen.parl.gc.ca, Patrick.Brazeau@sen.parl.gc.ca, line.tessier@sen.parl.gc.ca, larry.smith@sen.parl.gc.ca, ghislain.maltais@sen.parl.gc.ca, michel.rivard@sen.parl.gc.ca, jean-guy.dagenais@sen.parl.gc.ca, diane.lacombe@sen.parl.gc.ca, Renee.Dupuis@sen.parl.gc.ca, Eric.Forest@sen.parl.gc.ca, rosa.galvez@sen.parl.gc.ca, marc.gold@sen.parl.gc.ca, Leo.Housakos@sen.parl.gc.ca, marie-francoise.megie@sen.parl.gc.ca, Chantal.Petitclerc@sen.parl.gc.ca, Andre.Pratte@sen.parl.gc.ca, raymonde.saint-germain@sen.parl.gc.ca
Thank you for helping to protect Canadians of all ages from the harmful physical, psychological, and societal effects of legalized marijuana.
SAMPLE LETTER
(This is a sample. Please feel free to use it for ideas and modify it to fit your perspective.)
Dear _____________,
(PERSONALIZED MESSAGE—1-2 sentences long)
I wanted to reach out to you today to express my concern about Bill C-45, which deals with the legalization of cannabis. As a young person, I am extremely concerned about the way that this framework puts young children and vulnerable populations at risk.
Canadian youth are one of the highest consumers of cannabis internationally. Many government officials have rightly identified that this is a problem that needs an innovative solution, one that goes beyond the status quo. However, young people need more awareness and education, not increased access and exposure.
Under Bill C-45, children ages 12-18 would be able to carry up to 5 grams of cannabis, which is the equivalent of 15 joints. Once a young person has turned 18 years old, they would be permitted to carry up to 30 grams, which is 60-75 joints.
Researchers have systematically proven that THC levels are increasing—rather than having normal THC levels of under 4%, marijuana plants are now registering THC levels closer to 7%. Considering that increased THC levels are directly linked with higher rates of marijuana addiction, this research is gravely concerning to me.
It is also important to consider the impact of this legislation on vulnerable groups, as well as young children. For example, Indigenous communities are already struggling with drug addiction, and this legislation would only exacerbate the issue. Indigenous youth need greater access to rehabilitation centres and mental health resources, not cannabis with dangerously high levels of THC.
Some have suggested decriminalization is the more ideal approach, since it would prevent youth from receiving a criminal record if they are caught possessing small quantities of marijuana. However, the Youth Criminal Justice Act provides special protection for young people in order to prevent situations like this.
There are too many questions that this legislative framework leaves unanswered: How will other Canadians be protected from the effects of secondhand smoke? How will the physical and mental health of young users be supported? How will THC levels be monitored? How will police respond to the inevitable increase in impaired driving? How will advertising be monitored in order to prevent the exploitation of young people and the promotion of cannabis addiction?
Government officials have rightly acknowledged that Canada is facing a “cannabis crisis”, so to speak. I firmly believe that this phenomenon of cannabis use should be addressed. However, legalization is the not the solution.
As a young person, I want education, not exposure. Please protect vulnerable young people like myself by refusing to support Bill C-45.
