Dating minors Is creepy, not cute

> The problem with underage relationships

Jessica Berget
Staff Writer

 

| help but cringe whenever |
see an adult dating someone under
18, or someone significantly younger
than them. Besides the fact that
dating someone under 16 when you
are more than a few years older than
them is illegal, it’s also extremely
creepy and inappropriate. They are a
child, you are an adult. End of story.
Speaking of creepy, just two years
ago, now 38-year-old James Franco
attempted (and failed) to hook up witha
17-year-old girl on Instagram. Although
our age of consent is 16, in many places
she would still be considered a minor.
After being called out on his gross
behaviour, he denied it, but eventually
confessed to it and even joked about
it, with his career remaining virtually
unharmed. He admitted it was a bad
judgement call on his part. ] can’t help
but wonder if he would still be saying
that if they had actually hooked up, or
if he is just saying that because he was
exposed? I presume the latter. Yes, the
age difference is gross, but even more
disturbing is the thought that this girl
is probably just graduating high school
and figuring out what she wants to do
with her life, while he is almost 40 years
old. Even if she went along with it and
consented, it’s his responsibility as the
adult to determine right from wrong
and to say no to sex with a minor.

In a romantic or sexual
relationship, it is important to realize
that there is a large imbalance in power
dynamics if your partner is much
older or younger than you. The adult
partner has unspoken authority over
their younger partner, no matter what
their gender is. The older partner is
also seen as more dominant, while the
younger person is more vulnerable.
Lastly, there is a big difference in life
and relationship experience, and the
older partner may use their partner's
age and lack of experience as an excuse

 

to undermine or manipulate them. Of
course, not all relationships end up
like this, but a significant amount do.
There are different levels of
maturity in these relationships. The
underage partner might be mature for
their age, but for an older person to
have the same level of maturity as their
much younger partner is troubling,
especially if they are still in high school.
The younger partner may act older or
even look older than they really are,
but when it comes to sex they may
not be emotionally ready, especially if

Legalization approach too
slow and restrictive

> Why are arrests still being made?

Cazzy Lewchuk
Opinions Editor

 

ike most Canadians, I support the

democratic process of law and
legislation. I also support the full
legalization of marijuana with as few
restrictions as possible. I believe any
adult should be able to own, grow, and
use cannabis as much as they'd like,
and I question why limiting what people
can do with a plant is necessary.

After promising legislation to
legalize marijuana by the spring
of 2017, the Liberal government
finally delivered at the last minute.
They recently made the promise to
introduce legislation legalizing weed
across Canada... by July 1, 2018.

As has been repeatedly stated and
demonstrated by authorities, marijuana
laws are still in effect. Until officially
legal, marijuana suppliers and users
continue to face charges for a substance
that is to become legal in the near future.

As has always been the
case for marijuana arrests, they
disproportionately affect minorities. An
indigenous person (or a person of any
other visible minority) is more likely

to be arrested
and charged for
being caught
with weed than
a white person
would be. The
maximum
punishment
in Canada for
possession under
30 grams is 6
months in jail
and a $1,000 fine.
The sentence is
usually much
less, but it
can still lead
to having a
criminal record,
which is very
damaging and
can significantly
limit
opportunities.
Justin
Trudeau has
admitted
to smoking

marijuana, and has publicly advocated its

legalization. Nevertheless, he supports

 

arrests and
charges of other
Canadians
who cultivate
the stuff.

It is
not just the
people with a
couple joints
on them who
suffer. Anyone
who sells
marijuana—
whether to
their friends or
on a national
level—can face
years in jail.
With medical
marijuana
having been
legal for
years and full
legalization on
the horizon,
there seems
little reason
to suddenly
go after dispensary owners.

Most of the charges will likely

Illustration by Cody Schumacher

Photo of James Franco via www.theodysseyonline.com

their partner is significantly older
than them. I’ve heard about some
people waiting for their partners to
become legal before they start dating,
but that is still predatory behaviour.
I’m not here to knock on anyone’s
relationship. If you have a healthy
and meaningful relationship, then
all the power to you. If you want to
date someone older than you, that’s
your choice. But it’s important to
recognize the issues that might
come up with such a relationship,
and learn how best to avoid them.

be dropped by the time they go to
court. Most criminal cases take years
to go on trial, and the legal nature of
marijuana by that time would cause most
judges to simply throw the case out.

It is hypocritical and confusing
to suggest that marijuana is a
dangerous and illegal substance
in 2017 while planning to tax and
support it the very next year. The
government believes marijuana is
harmful to children and should not
be accessed by youth (a belief I share),
but doesn’t seem to think it hurts
Canadians enough to remain illegal.

Using marijuana for medicinal
purposes in Canada has been legal
since 2001. Many people who use it for
legitimate health reasons also enjoy
it recreationally, and many who claim
to use it medicinally are, in fact, only
using it to get high (gasp!). It’s silly
to prevent everyone from accessing
it legally, especially with a readily
available market and lots of tax money
to be made. It’s one thing to draw out
the legislation process to ensure fair
taxes and logistics, but to continue
arresting people in the meantime is
damaging and a waste of resources.