In what some people have called a gutsy move, or the cultural evolution by others, the Canadian Senate has given the green light recommending the legalization of marijuana in Canada.

The Senate has been reviewing the drug millions of Canadians use and have concluded it is no more harmful than alcohol, tobacco and does not lead to other stronger drugs.

So what happens now? Under proposed changes, blood alcohol limits (BAC) will be lowered from .08 to .04 when combined with marijuana. As well pardons have been recommended for anyone who has been convicted of possession, an amount of people that surpasses 650,000 canadians.

This is a far ways off from actually becoming law, but it sets a new presidence, something Parliament has long avoided and shyed away from. No doubt there will be some outcries heard in our great nation on this issue, but the biggest outcry will come from our neighbours to the south, the Americans.

The Americans have been fighting a long standing 'war' on canadian grown marijuana that is continously smuggled across their borders. If it were to become law, we would most likely feel pressure from the United States on some of our other exports, much like the tarrifs they introduced on Softwood Lumber.

The money the government has spent policing and prosecuting marijuana users and growers, estimated at over 3 billion ($3,000,000,000) dollars per year, could be used to help our failing health care and social assistance programs.

Taxation on the legalized drug alone would bring in another one to two billion dollars to the governments coffers. In this day and age where balanced budgets are a must, but other programs like health care get cut back substantially, this seems like a wise move on the governments part. With an estimated 4.5 million Canadians who use this drug for recreational and medicinal purposes, the possibilities of legalization are being taken more seriously.

Is our country ready for legalized marijuana? I think we are, the Senate has finally brought the issue front and center, and this time Ottawa can't hide and hope it will all go away. This time they will have to stand up, face the issue, and face us, the general public of Canada.