I have no problem with parents bringing their children to these rallies. It really shows the public the average joe factor.

What I do have a problem with is kids smoking. I didn't even start smoking pot until I was 17 going on 18. The reason why I don't like kids smoking pot is because of brain development. I believe in keeping kids absolutly drug free until they enter thier mid to late teens. Hell I won't even let my kid have caffine until their like 13. I believe if you let the mind develop to a certain point then it can function better then when the time is right you can elevate you mind to new "hights". And if any teacher tells me to put my kid on stuff like ritlan I'd tell them exactly what my dad told them years ago "go fuck yourself I'm not messing with my kids brain he can learn just fine without it!" which in the case of myself was well founded and turned out to be true.

Some of you may disagree with me but I think it should be really stressed in this movement because the parents who are smart know that if your in high school getting a dime bag is WAY easier than a six pack.

Hi David,

There's quite a few different opinions about an age limit for purchasing in a cafe or smoking/ingesting in a cafe.

At the hotbox in Toronto, it's 18.

What is your current position on this?

Others?

Personally, i toggle between a minimum age of 16 to 18. Meaning some days i think it should be 16 and other days i think 18. I have not made a final decision for myself on this.

Two points.

1) I started smoking at 14, and I taught myself enough law to represent myself at the Supreme Court of Canada. If cannabis harmed my mind, I haven't noticed it stop me from doing what I want it to do. I've noticed postive effects on other smart folks around me. Perhaps cannabis is a performance enhancer for young people when they use it properly?

2) A fourteen year old comes and smokes a joint at a rally. What are you going to do? Take it away from him? Send him away? Tell him "not here"? And what if he doesn't listen to you? What if he has lots of his friends there with him? How far would you go to enforce irrational stigma against them?

Remember, there's a lot of opinion on teen cannabis use and pathology, but no facts that support a prohibition on teen cannabis use. I think peppermint tea works on young and old alike - most herbs do.

I notice that Europe age limits vary. I think we should probably say "13 with parental permission", otherwise the Senate Recommendation of 16 to fall back on if the 13 thing doesn't work. 18 and over don't need permission.

I know prohibition is far more unsafe than proper cannabis use, and I think our regulations should reflect that reality.

What's the legal limit on driving? On fireworks? Sky-diving? Mountain Climbing? Hockey?

When we stop treating it like explosives, it will stop being seen as a danger.

How many people want their children subjected to the risk of jail, to searches, to extortion and exploitation because they won't wait until they're 18 to smoke pot? I hope the answer is "nobody". I hope we're not fooling ourselves into thinking we can even make that decision for a young person. Like sex, they're gonna do it no matter what the "rules" are, our role is to provide a safe atmosphere and as much education as possible.

And I apologize for calling that guy a moron.

The guy who insulted you, Jodie, and Marc Emery. Some of us just can't turn the other cheek all the time when our allies are attacked. But you are pretty tough and can defend yourself.

But Irwin Cotler is still a lying devious idiot!