On October 17, 2018, Canada became the second country in the world, behind Uruguay, to federally legalize the consumption of cannabis, ending nearly a century of prohibition. But six weeks later, many cannabis users are wondering what害羞草研究所檚 different, if anything.

害羞草研究所淣othing害羞草研究所檚 really changed害羞草研究所攊t害羞草研究所檚 all the same, and I hate the stigma (that害羞草研究所檚 still attached to smoking cannabis),害羞草研究所� said Connie Sanders. Black Press Media has changed this name to protect the identity of her children.

In 1908, Canada enacted the Opium Act, which saw the criminalization of morphine, opium, and cocaine use. And amidst mindsets that believed in such things as reefer madness and the marijuana menace, cannabis was added to the Confidential Restricted List of the Narcotics Drug Act Amendment Bill in 1923.

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And there it stayed until the Liberal Party enacted the Cannabis Act in June, 2018. But legalizing cannabis usage has been on the minds of Canadians for decades.

Since the late 1990s, public opinion polls have continued to show more and more agreement with the statement, 害羞草研究所楽moking marijuana should not be a criminal offense.害羞草研究所� In 2001, medical marijuana was legalized, and by June 2017, seven out of 10 Canadians were in favour of legalization. And perhaps most recently, a survey conducted in January of 2018 showed at least 23 per cent of Canadians admitted to using cannabis within the previous 12 months.

Yet now that smoking a joint is as legal as smoking a cigarette, or drinking a glass of wine, Sanders害羞草研究所攚ho害羞草研究所檚 married with two children害羞草研究所攕ays she害羞草研究所檚 not noticing much acceptance, which she says is strange, considering how many years it害羞草研究所檚 been somewhat culturally acceptable.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 still lots of mystery behind (marijuana),害羞草研究所� said Dr. Steven Esau, manager of the Fraser Region Youth Addiction Centre.

害羞草研究所淭he lack of knowledge of what害羞草研究所檚 behind cannabis and what it does to the human body 害羞草研究所� (may be part of) people害羞草研究所檚 hesitancy in accepting (it). We don害羞草研究所檛 totally know its magnitude of affect on the development of the brain.害羞草研究所�

But affect the brain it does, as Esau continued on to explain that cannabis is fat-soluble, which allows it to cross the blood-brain barrier.

害羞草研究所淎nd the marijuana we have now is different than what they had in the 害羞草研究所�70s. It害羞草研究所檚 far more potent. So maybe not knowing the full grasp of what it could do to a developing brain (worries people).害羞草研究所�

That may explain why Sanders had a mom pick up her child after a play date, 害羞草研究所渁nd we haven害羞草研究所檛 seen that kid since,害羞草研究所� she said sadly as she watched her youngest play in the living room.

It wasn害羞草研究所檛 that she had been smoking in front of the children, rather the scent of cannabis was present in her home, but, she says, the smell tends to linger.

害羞草研究所淚 live in the cannabis world: I eat it, smoke it, and rub it on myself 害羞草研究所� (almost) 24 hours a day. I smell like it? I always smell like it, so they can害羞草研究所檛 (judge based just) on that. People (seem to) get offended by its strong smell害羞草研究所攅ven if it hasn害羞草研究所檛 been smoked.害羞草研究所�

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It害羞草研究所檚 like the disdain for marijuana use has been ingrained in our culture and everyone has an opinion on those who use it.

害羞草研究所淏ut an opinion is yours, and free to have, but it害羞草研究所檚 not part of the law,害羞草研究所� said RCMP spokesperson, Mike Rail.

Which is why the Royal Canadian Mounted Police began training in regards to dealing with cannabis prior to legislation being passed this October.

The point is no longer whether or not you agree with the consumption of cannabis, says Rail, it害羞草研究所檚 now about the application and enforcement of our country害羞草研究所檚 laws, which no longer bans cannabis use for any reason.

害羞草研究所滱nd as the laws change, society (needs to) change and (we) have to do what (we) can to (deal with those changes) 害羞草研究所� but there are going to be growing pains in any (situation) like this.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not a matter of just flipping a switch, it害羞草研究所檚 the way we害羞草研究所檙e going as a society,害羞草研究所� continued Rail. 害羞草研究所淵ou learn to work within that society, and it害羞草研究所檚 new, but you害羞草研究所檒l learn.害羞草研究所�

And that害羞草研究所檚 not just for police officers, but members of the public in general: 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e all the same, so now we evolve (to culturally accept) cannabis,害羞草研究所� added the seasoned officer.

害羞草研究所淲e (also) need to research it,害羞草研究所� said Esau. People need to 害羞草研究所渞eally engage in the research to see what the long-term effects are, and (whether legalization) was a good move or not. The more research we do, the more knowledge that could be transferred to the public害羞草研究所� to possibly assuage the lingering issues they have with the former narcotic.

But Sanders says she isn害羞草研究所檛 so sure that it害羞草研究所檚 that simple for everybody.

害羞草研究所淚 have to say that there害羞草研究所檚 still an underground lifestyle (surrounding cannabis use). I know so many moms who smoke, who get together in groups and smoke while watching their kids 害羞草研究所� but guaranteed I害羞草研究所檝e lost friends because I害羞草研究所檓 so open about my (cannabis usage).害羞草研究所�

And while Sanders says she tries her 害羞草研究所渂est to be very honest from the beginning害羞草研究所� of any new relationship, especially one involving her children, she害羞草研究所檚 still meeting resistance to her usage of marijuana.

害羞草研究所淪o what害羞草研究所檚 different, really? Not much except it gives me more power in my chest so if I害羞草研究所檓 somewhere and I害羞草研究所檓 not feeling well, now I can (legally) say, 害羞草研究所業害羞草研究所檓 going to smoke a joint,害羞草研究所� but I know people will still stare.害羞草研究所�

And stare they do. Sanders says she does her best to obey all public smoking laws, yet still bears witness to mothers pulling their children down sidewalks away from her, or receives snide comments from people while in public spaces.

害羞草研究所淲hy can害羞草研究所檛 it be accepted like going to have a drink of wine?害羞草研究所� Sanders asked rhetorically. 害羞草研究所淧ersonally, I害羞草研究所檇 much rather smoke than drink. Why can害羞草研究所檛 we be like Amsterdam where it害羞草研究所檚 just so accepted and normal with (marijuana) plants growing in public gardens.害羞草研究所�