What’s next on the cannabis-legalization road?
Repealing close to a century of laws prohibiting the use of cannabis has not been without challenges. That’s no surprise to anyone familiar with the process of developing and implementing public policy. At only three months in, we have only begun to implement the Cannabis Act. The status of retail sales most clearly illustrates this […]
Liberals rolled the dice on legalization, now we’re paying the price
Last October, Canada became the first country after Uruguay to legalize recreational marijuana. To discuss some of the current policy considerations post-marijuana legalization, it is helpful to look back over this last year. It was almost one year ago that the Senate began an intensive study of Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act, with five Senate […]
Industry players call for regulatory tweaks as empty shelves harsh retailers’ buzz
Some industry experts say the Canadian government’s legal pot regime can be tweaked to help address immediate supply concerns, but the federal minister in charge of overseeing the regulatory system said a national cannabis supply shortage isn’t to blame for unstocked retail shelves in parts of Canada. In an email interview with The Hill Times, […]
Black market, supply chain issues will improve as legal weed market matures, says Blair
The federal minister responsible for the legal cannabis system in Canada says the black market will continue to shrink in 2019 as the legal cannabis market matures. In an email Q&A interview with The Hill Times, Minister for Border Security and Organized Crime Prevention Bill Blair (Scarborough Southwest, Ont.) said the illegal market won’t be […]
Edible pot regulations a ‘start,’ says industry ahead of consultations
As they prepare to sit down with government officials to talk about cannabis edibles, industry stakeholders say the regulations already proposed offer a path forward, but there is still some cause for concern. “It’s a start,” said Ivan Ross Vrána, vice-president of public affairs at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, whose clients include cannabis companies The Green Organic […]
Blunt talk: Liberals dropped the ball on legalization
It’s been nearly three months since the legalization of cannabis, and there is much to be concerned about. Many of these concerns were highlighted to the government before legalization, on Oct. 17, 2018, while some are new. While legalization through Bill C-45 was still under consideration in the House of Commons and the Senate, concerns […]
Legalization lessons from the municipal front lines
Legalizing non-medical cannabis has been a significant challenge for every order of government. Municipalities’ practical experience with legalization also underscores the need to modernize how governments work together to benefit the Canadians we all serve. This is a big national commitment. And such commitments often require extensive local implementation. When Ottawa commits to generate growth […]
Better education needed to warn youth of weed risks
The legalization of recreational marijuana on Oct. 17, 2018 was a popular move. The legislation’s attraction stems from the perceived advantages of legalization: getting organized crime out of the marijuana business, removing the heavy hand of the criminal justice system from large sections of the population, especially minors, and the proper regulation and control of […]
Feds should snuff out excise tax on medical cannabis
The legalization of cannabis is a remarkable accomplishment of the current government. Ending nearly a century of cannabis prohibition in Canada was a fundamental policy change. Although it was not universally supported, it was the right decision and it is precipitating an evolution in global cannabis policy. The classic advice given to new cannabis consumers […]
Protecting the health and safety of Canadians remains our top priority
On Oct. 17, 2018, after extensive consultations with Canadians, study and input from Parliamentarians, and close collaboration with other levels of government, Indigenous organizations, experts and stakeholders, the government of Canada brought the Cannabis Act into force. The legislation delivers on our promise to establish a strict legal framework for the production, distribution, sale and […]
