i've argued it should basically be the same as alcohol, too, but the age thing is the exception - it should be set younger. and, let's think it through.

what the legislation is (supposedly) geared around is the idea that kids are smoking because it's easier to get pot than it is to get alcohol because, despite the legal wording, marijuana is not currently a controlled substance. the solution is that if you control the distribution then usage rates will decrease amongst kids.

it's probably true for kids in the 14-18 range.

but, that implies that they'll need to find other drugs - like meth-sold-as-mdma - because they can't access pot.

so, do you legalize mdma then? well, i actually think you should, because it's safe in pure form but extremely dangerous in the forms you find on the street. even a lot of the kids that are walking out of parties without any visible harm are only vaguely aware of what they're actually taking, and the longer term damage that it might be doing.

but, then what? do you legalize psilocybin? well, psilocybin isn't that dangerous, either.

but, you start getting in blurrier areas when you get to the next iteration. if you end up legalizing lsd in the end, the age should be relatively high. and, i'll never support legalizing opioids or cocaine - although i wouldn't mind seeing more potent caffeine options on the market.

the point is that you're just kicking the can down the road, here. at some point you need to realize that kids are just going to move to the next drug if they can't get the one you're cutting off access to. it's a demand issue; and demand creates supply.

trudeau's argument is really just supply-side economics, and is flawed for the same reason that any other piece of supply-side economics is.

a better idea is to lower the age and teach kids how to use it responsibly, like they do with alcohol in france. it is, after all, not use that should be of concern but abuse. and, the concern should really be in finding ways to gear marijuana policy around tactics to stop them from getting into the harder stuff, which includes alcohol.

http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2017/07/21/ontarios-age-of-majority-for-pot-same-as-booze