MP Bruce Hyer wants Canada to reverse its marijuana laws.
The independent MP on Tuesday said it’s time for the country to take a drastic step and legalize cannabis for recreational use, 90 years after legislators added it to the confidential restricted list.
Reached in Ottawa Hyer, who admitted he used the drug decades ago and found it pleasurable, but possibly habit forming, said the country’s marijuana laws are stupid.
“The big reason to legalize it is to take it out of the hands of organized crime,” Hyer said. “We don’t have Satan’s choice selling us beer or wine, so I don’t think it’s smart to have them sell us marijuana.”
The bottom line, he added, is that no amount of enforcement, penalties or jail time can stop users from smoking it up, and making criminals out of them seems a little dated and costly to taxpayers who have to cover jail and prison costs.
“I can’t see any downside. It’s not going away. Prohibition did not work in the ‘30s and it’s not working now.”
Hyer, responding to Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau’s admission he smoked marijuana five or six times in his life, most recently three years ago while a sitting MP, said he doesn’t have an issue with the admission.
“I like his honesty. It’s nice to have an honest politician,” Hyer said.
