The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday, Feb. 18The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday, Feb. 18, edition that each week, there seems to be a new headline declaring that piles of cash will soon flood into the economy once marijuana is legalized. The Globe's guest columnist Sam Riches writes that CIBC World Markets says Canada's federal and provincial governments could pocket $5-billion a year in tax revenues from the sale of legal marijuana. A few major players are set to cash in, most notably Canopy Growth. The $5-billion figure, a blip in a near $2-trillion economy, comes with a few caveats. It does not account for the enormous task of building the necessary framework to support legalization. Most glaringly, we still need to implement an effective roadside test for marijuana impairment. The CIBC's findings are also dependent on the elimination of the illicit market, which is unlikely to happen. CIBC economist Avery Shenfeld, the economist who crunched the numbers, referred to the amount as "no barnburner." The day legalization arrives will mark the beginning of a new approach, well past due. There will be benefits to be had, but a substantial economic boon, unfortunately, is not one them.