Mr. Speaker, the possession and acquisition licence, PAL, has been around for about 20 years now.
However, the current legislation will not decrease the criminal or backdoor marijuana trade. It will actually increase it.
I heard the parliamentary secretary say that it would stop the 14 and 15 year olds from selling these things. However, the government put a little part in the bill saying that a 12 year old would not be charged. If I were a criminal ringleader in organized crime, I would give all my drugs to a 12 year old to take into the school and dispose of them for me, because no one will be charged. Therefore, the legislation is wrong. It was wrong when it was brought out. It was ill thought out. I still do not believe it is a good law for Canada.