No matter the results of Canada’s May 2 election outcome, government officials will have to deal with the issues of drug policies sooner rather than later, especially since Prime Minister Stephen Harper plans to enhance the already tough drug laws if he gets re-elected.

In the meantime, Justice Donald Taliano of the Superior Court in Ontario said that they only had three months to fix the government’s medical marijuana program, which now leaves patients hanging or facing legal risks.

Questions have been raised as to exactly why the province of Ottawa still criminalizes even the possession of a small amount of cannabis, especially since courts across Canada tend to be more lenient on those with only small amounts.

In the year 2000, the Ontario Court of Appeal noted that the drug’s “effects are probably not as benign as was thought some years ago”. However, they still gave credit to the fact that cannabis is less damaging than tobacco, alcohol or other hard drugs, and that it doesn’t have an overdose risk.

There is a strong case to back the ability of Canadians will illnesses like HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, MS or cancer to be able to get marijuana through a federal medical program, since it is able to effectively offset nausea, pain, dizziness and other symptoms.