LE3 .A278 2008

2008

Grieve, Malcolm

Acadia University

Bachelor of Arts

Honours

Political Science

Politics

This thesis examines Canada’s cannabis drug policy and laws. It argues, using a historical comparison between Australia and Canada, that it was not international conventions, international bodies or the international community that have influenced Canada’s cannabis policy, but rather American pressure prevented Canada from decriminalizing cannabis in 2003. Americans feared the decriminalization of cannabis would undermine the sanctity of the border, cause greater US consumption of cannabis and more cross-border smuggling. To illustrate how America applied pressure on Canada, this thesis examines Australia’s approach to cannabis, cannabis strategy and policy and explores the Australian states’ individual legislation pertaining to cannabis. This explanation uses power theory to understand the American role and why it feels the need to influence Canadian politics.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:536