I didn't realize that Canada was hanging folks. Maybe you're referring to my location. Well, in Indonesia there's severe consequences for smuggling drugs. If, on the other hand, you want to put pot in your food, it's ok.
It's OK to use marijuana as food seasoning, Indonesian official says - On Deadline - USATODAY.com
In one of the towns I grew up in, Courtenay BC, Canada, there were 3 families living in one house. Well, since that was against the bylaw, they were ejected from the home. That would never happen in Indonesia. In Indonesia, I routinely see children riding motorcycles with their parents, between their legs, without any harness, without a helmet. This too is a freedom that isn't allowed in Canada. In Indonesia, police are quite open about soliciting bribes. That freedom isn't allowed in Canada. In Indonesia, where I live, there's a mosque that blasts Allah prayers 5 times per day, including at 5 am in the morning for about 1 hour. This is also another freedom that isn't allowed in Canada, probably because the neighbors would kick up a fuss.
Freedom is such a poorly understood word. I don't know if that's the fault of the governments in the western world, or if people just prefer to be self centered and say that whatever freedom they want should be OK, and whatever freedoms shouldn't be granted go against a certain moral code and therefore shouldn't be OK. When the majority support them, then that's grand. If you fit into that 'free' model, then that's great. It must feel wonderful. Those who do not fit into that model, such as those who want to smoke pot for whatever reason, are outside of it and feel the pinch of the restriction of freedom.
You know, in Canada, they forced a Muslim girl off the soccer field because she refused to take off her habit (I forget the word for it that Muslims use). Another woman was forced out of a corrections school because she wanted to wear it. Other women complained because it's a symbol of women's repression. But to repress the Muslim woman who wanted to wear it is OK.
Again, and if folks still want to wave the 'we're free' or 'we're fighting for freedom' or some such slogan that they've had instilled in them since birth, then that's fine. When you care to fully explore the concept of it, debate it, to better come to understand the consequences of it and the importance of finding a balance between freedoms, then the discussions and debates will become not only more interesting, but they may also bear the fruit of enlightenment. It might also help us become more successful, if we understand both sides of the issue and be compassionate about it, we may very well have the foundation for getting what we want.
Will everyone here argue that it should be OK for teachers to smoke in the classroom? MJ or tobacco? My parents' generation in school, the freedom to smoke tobacco was tolerated. You could smoke just about anywhere. Thankfully, those freedoms are gone, so that the freedom to breathe air void of second hand smoke is upheld. That's what the ideal of freedom is - a balance, finding how we can coexist with each other so that we may do as we wish without imposing ourselves on each other. Where prostitution is legal, but solicitation in the streets is not. Where smoking MJ at home with adults, and no children in the room, is legal, but smoking it with the kids is not.
Anyways, that's enough from me.