Despite a number of marijuana advocates having expressed concern over Canada planning to send some pot offenders to prison after it makes weed fully legal next year, Federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould says she refuses to apologize for moving forward with policies intended to keep the herb out of the hands of children.
During a recent interview with CTV’s Question Period, Wilson-Raybould said the intention of Canada’s marijuana legalization bill, which dictates a 14-year prison sentence for anyone who knowingly sells pot to kids, was created to put the offense in the same ranks as serious crimes, such as sexual assault, which can challenge the wellbeing of children.
“I am not going to apologize for the strict penalties that we put in place in this legislation,” she said. “I know it’s going to benefit from debate and dialogue and discussion, not only in Parliament but across the country.
“We are not advocating or encouraging young people to engage and smoke cannabis,” she continued. “We are putting in strict penalties to ensure that anybody that invites a child or uses a child for any of the prohibited actions within the code… will suffer a severe…