THE CORD THE TIE THAT BINDS WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY SINCE 1926
VOLUME 59 ISSUE 2 • JULY 4, 2018
TAKE A SIP OF SUSTAINABILITY How Laurier is cutting back on single-use plastics Features, page 8
SAFE INJECTION SITES
SEMINARY NAME CHANGE
LEGACY GREENS
BORDER SEPERATIONS
HAWKS HALL OF FAME
The pros and cons of resources in Waterloo
New branding aims to honour history
Benefits of buying organic and local produce
Finding compassion for migrant families
Nine athletes inducted into hall of fame
News, page 4
News, page 6
Arts & Life, page 11
Opinion, page 16
Sports, page 16
Government legalizes cannabis consumption AARON HAGEY LEAD REPORTER
On October 17, 2018, the Canadian government will be authorizing the recreational consumption, possession and purchase of cannabis in Canada, fulfilling a major campaign promise made by the Liberal government and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Cannabis Act, also known as Bill C-45, is a law “that will provide legal access to cannabis and to control and regulate its production, distribution and sale.” Canada is currently the second country worldwide to legalize the recreational use of cannabis
nationwide. Much like tobacco and alcohol, cannabis is going to be treated as a controlled substance, which means there will be restrictions, fines and criminal punishment associated with abusing it. The minimum age to buy, use and grow cannabis for recreational use is 19. Individuals will be permitted to use or consume cannabis products in your private home, residence or on your private property. Similar to alcohol, cannabis is going to be prohibited in any public space, workplace and vehicle, with a first offence fine up to $1000 — subsequent fines increase to $5000. This includes any Laurier
“ I think you can look at if from the perspective of harm minimization — or harm reduction.” -Paul Mallet, associate professor of psychology at Laurier
owned properties, such as the campus, as it is considered a public space. Much like alcohol, educating the general public on the effects of cannabis usage before or during driving must be reinforced with a law of this magnitude. As stated on the Laurier website, Paul Mallet, an associate professor of psychology at WLU, is “an expert on the behavioural and neural effects of drugs, particularly cannabis, addiction and the effects of cannabis on the body’s natural endocannabinoid system.” “It’s certainly supported by the data, there have been many many studies that have shown beyond a shadow of a doubt that even
when a person is using relatively low levels of cannabis, that their ability to drive is impaired, at least to the extent that it is with alcohol consumption,” Mallet said. Mallet supports the legalization bill, due to the positive effect that it will have on minimizing the criminal consequences of cannabis use. “One of the concerns is when you have prohibition over a substance, you drive the entire market into the black market. That’s where we were — that’s where we still are, in fact,” Mallet said. “I think you can look at it from the perspective of harm minimization — or harm reduction.” Continued on Page 3.