1.What are the most important things when it comes to setting the minimum age for having, using and buying cannabis?

balance. if the age is set too high or too low it will create unwanted side effects. finding the right balance is key.

2. What are your views about raising the minimum age above 18?

i would actually prefer to see the minimum age lowered to 16, as i think that that is the point where the balance is better met. i would suspect that making it more difficult for teenagers to find marijuana will lead them to use more dangerous drugs instead, specifically lsd or meth-sold-as-mdma. but, i suppose that the best thing to do would be to study the question in further depth and come to an empirical conclusion. i do not think that raising the age higher than 18 will act as a disincentive for use, or measurably impact usage rates. the key demographic that you want to keep away from more dangerous drugs is probably 14-18, and you do that through education in public schools rather than through prohibition.

3. What are your views on restricting where people can use recreational cannabis in Ontario?

public drinking is in fact widespread in ontario. it's one thing to have a law, and another to enforce it. i think it would be far more difficult to enforce public smoking laws than public drinking laws. that doesn't mean that the laws shouldn't exist, for the rare situations that they need to be enforced. i mean, even tobacco laws are unenforceable, in truth - but i support them in the abstract. it makes people think twice and look around before they light up. so, i would support laws that regulate public smoking similarly to public drinking, but only with a comparable level of non-enforcement attached to them.

4. Are there public places where people should not be able to use cannabis? (e.g. around schools or community centres, public parks, sidewalks, patios)

the rules should be the same as for alcohol, but we need to rely on personal discretion for this matter, as we do with alcohol. the laws should exist, but only be enforced in extreme circumstances.

5. When it comes to recreational cannabis use, should landlords and property managers be able to restrict tenants and condo owners from smoking cannabis in their units?

the supreme court will not allow this. there's no use in wasting time and resources in a losing court battle.

6. When it comes to recreational use of cannabis, should condo boards or property management be able to restrict smoking cannabis in common spaces like rooftops, courtyards and balconies?

yes. and, the precedent exists to uphold it.

7. Would you support the Ontario government putting in place more penalties (e.g. fines, demerit points) for drug-impaired driving?

it should be the same as for alcohol.

8. There are limitations on the ability of current technologies to test for cannabis impairment. Given these limitations, what penalties from above should Ontario consider strengthening?

i think this argument is backwards, as blood alcohol count is not necessarily a good indicator of intoxication. it should be up to the cops to gather evidence in the form of speeding, swerving, slurred speech, etc. i would prefer to see less emphasis placed on breathalyzers and more emphasis placed on observation! but, i don't see a reason for there to be harsher penalties for marijuana. there should be parity, as much as is possible.

9.    Are there any other measures you think the government should employ to keep our roads safe?

there is a strong urban myth that it is safer to drive stoned than drunk. this is based on an apples and oranges comparison of being fall down drunk and being very mildly stoned; in that particular scenario, the urban myth would actually be true. it doesn't generalize, though. the key point is that people need to develop apples to apples comparisons, as best they can, and learn to know their limits.

10.   Where do you think the government should prioritize its road safety funding to address drug-impaired driving? (e.g. technology development for cannabis testing, Increased RIDE programs, public education)

i'm going to go with tv ads (using MADD as a model) and frank, scientific discussions in grade school, around the ages of 10 or 11.

11. Who should sell and distribute cannabis in Ontario?

i think that both beer and marijuana should be available at the corner store, using the model that currently exists in quebec and also in michigan.

12. What public health and safety measures should Ontario put in place to restrict access for youth and promote public health?

i don't think the government should do anything of the sort.

13.  What is most important to you when it comes to the way cannabis is sold and distributed in Ontario?

storefront access. i don't want a mail system; i want to be able to walk into a store and walk out with a small quantity a few minutes later.

14.  When it comes to the safe use of cannabis, what does the public need to be informed about?

i think the public needs to be reassured that marijuana is already widely used and that legalization will not cause chaos or social collapse.

15.  Which voices are the most important for people to hear these messages from (e.g. government, educators, health care professionals, police)?

the most important voices to be heard from are those with actual experience using the drug. and, i think there should be special care taken to prevent people who have not used it from being given a platform to speak about it.