Ottawa at risk of losing its first-mover advantage in cannabis sector
As the first G7 nation to legalize cannabis, Canadians have embraced this opportunity to innovate and create jobs throughout the cannabis sector, and one year after legalization, academic and industry leaders remain eager to lead in this space. Legalization sparked new research projects, novel production and processing systems, inventive product development, and growth in our […]
Focus on restricting access to weed has hampered crackdown on black market
Any assessment of the federal government’s efforts to create a legal framework for adult-use cannabis—or any public policy—must first be viewed through the lens of said policy’s objectives. In the case of cannabis, the government’s stated objectives were to, above all: protect young Canadians by keeping cannabis out of the hands of children and youth, […]
Industry says packaging restrictions for cannabis edibles will make black market battle harder
With cannabis edibles set to soon be available in stores for recreational users, many industry players say packaging restrictions may hamper efforts to displace the edible black market, one of two key goals of the Cannabis Act, while others argue that the restrictions are reasonable and will prevent overconsumption accidents. The final regulations for selling […]
Research will solidify Canada’s cannabis advantage
Researchers use milestones and anniversaries as opportunities to stop and reflect on their projects, take stock of accomplishments and identify what still needs to be done. So, as we pass the one-year anniversary of the Cannabis Act, let’s stop for a moment and do just that. Initial challenges around policy and regulation, industrial production, and […]
What does the data really say about cannabis use by young people?
The potential for negative impacts of cannabis on youth has been a primary discussion point both prior and subsequent to legalization. Writing as a neuroscientist and a public health researcher studying cannabis, who are both frequently called upon to comment on this topic, we feel that there are some important points to emphasize about what […]
Tug-of-war between scrapping pot’s black market, upping health outcomes yet to be resolved
October 2019 marks the one-year anniversary of Canada’s cannabis legalization framework, and many have taken the opportunity to opine on its progress. A common theme is that one year in, legalization is “a dud” because the black market remains strong. In this type of analysis, the persistence of the black market seems to be the […]
Feds have room to move on fully eradicating the cannabis black market
One of the central goals of the federal government in legalizing recreational cannabis was the elimination of the black market for cannabis. The ambition of this goal is now becoming clear. Statistics Canada recently reported that 42 per cent of Canadians purchase some of their cannabis from illegal sources. Given the supply and access issues […]
Will a minority government bring a renewed approach to cannabis amnesty?
One year after cannabis legalization in Canada, economic, health, and public safety concerns remain priorities, but social justice issues continue to be sidelined— just as they were in the final iteration of the Cannabis Act. As people worry about money lost in the industry, or when and where they will be able to purchase edibles, […]
Last chance to lobby MPs sees June numbers shrink, with influencers eyeing the campaign season
The waning days of the House’s busy legislative calendar were coupled with an unsurprising dip in lobbying, but some were making the most of the last month with MPs in Ottawa before an extended break for the campaign ahead of an October election. With party platforms still being written, June was a good time for […]
Canadians and cannabis, by the numbers
Personal use 4.4 million—number of Canadians who consumed cannabis in 2017 14.8—percentage of Canadians who consumed cannabis in 2017 5.4 million—number of Canadians expected to want to purchase legal cannabis in the fourth quarter of 2018 1.7 million—number of Canadians expected to continue to buy illegal cannabis in the fourth quarter of 2018 15—percentage of […]
