Ignoring the issue and legalizing pot anyway puts Canada, historically a strong supporter of the UN and other international organizations, in the position of violating international law.

i'm still not convinced that this happens, but if it does happen, then this is how it's going to happen.

the reality is that this government has already signalled that it is going to follow the lead of the united states in abandoning the united nations - hence it's support of unilateral bombing in syria without so much as an apparent thought to the illegality of it. i might even support it as a tactic. the main enforcer here is of course the united states. how can the americans think they can enforce drug treaties, when they ignore climate treaties and randomly bomb whomever they like with impunity? and, how do they expect to enforce this treaty internationally, when they will not enforce it locally?

i'm a strong supporter of the united nations, in principle, but the americans destroyed the institution a long time ago. i put this question out there during the last election: how will this new government react to a world without a rule of law? will it seek to build a new rule of law, or adjust itself to the absence of one? and, trudeau responded very clearly that he would respond to the absence of one.

it's not an answer i liked. but, don't act shocked. this government is, broadly, an extension of the previous one. the policy on the un, like so many other things, is an extension of the previous government's policy, itself a reaction to the united states' rejection of the united nations as a functional body.

this is reality: the united nations is dead.

i would like to rebuild it.

but, do not expect leadership from this government. they're followers; expect them to follow.