Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Sunday that he was never really “interested” in smoking marijuana.
Although Trudeau admitted to consuming cannabis when the drug was illegal in Canada, he told the French-language talk show “Tout le Monde en Parle” (“Everybody’s Talking”) on Sunday that he doesn’t intend on starting again after his government legalized cannabis throughout Canada last week. (RELATED: It’s Legal Weed Wednesday All Over Canada)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has admitted to using marijuana illegally. Ethan Miller/Getty Images and Paul Marotta/Getty Images for MIT Solve
“You’ve said that you’ve smoked a joint in the past but don’t see yourself doing it now,” the show’s host Guy Lepage asked Trudeau. “Why? Because it’s less fun when it’s legal?”
“Because it was never something that interested me much,” Trudeau replied before quickly bridging into his explanation of why he wanted to legalize marijuana, supposedly making it “safe” and harder to reach for children.
VIDEO (In French)
Trudeau was asked whether the long lineups of pot users at legal stores this week struck him as unusual. He responded, “Last year, five million Canadians consumed cannabis.”
Trudeau did not allude to critics of legalization who point out that there is no standard measurement for assessing marijuana impairment. Trudeau’s justice minister admitted as much this month. (RELATED: Trudeau Government Says Judging Marijuana Impairment Depends On ‘Case By Case’ Basis)
The prime minister, who has a young family, acknowledged that he has discussed smoking pot with his children and says he has advised them, “It’s a drug. It’s not recommended.”
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calls Liberal party volunteers to thank them for their help during the 2015 election campaign at the Liberal party office in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, October 19, 2016. REUTERS/Chris Wattie/File Photo
Despite claiming that legal weed will combat organized crime, he admitted, “The challenge we face is the black market and we know that this market could continue to exist for university students, people between 18 and 21, who drink alcohol and are cannabis users.”
Trudeau allowed that problems legalization will persist and that “not everything will be resolved in the first week…”