In roundtable discussions, the Task Force often heard that there were certain groups for which education and other "population-level" measures were insufficient to reduce harms significantly. Proponents cited a variety of arguments for allowing personal cultivation, including cost, personal preferences and access for those in rural and remote communities. Separate legislation dedicated to cannabis would recognize a new beginning and provide a clear framework for industry and members of the public. Barbara von Tigerstrom is a Professor at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law, where she has been a member of faculty since 2005. Whether in schools or in national campaigns, education should be evidence-informed, credible, informative and respectful of youth judgment. Nevertheless, the Task Force acknowledges that, based on current levels of use and available information on mortality and morbidity, the harms associated with the use of tobacco or alcohol are greater than those associated with the use of cannabis. However, the Task Force sees several advantages to the creation of new federal legislation dealing with cannabis. We also consider more targeted means to minimize the harm to individuals, particularly children, youth and other vulnerable populations. We acknowledge the clear need for investment in detection and enforcement tools. We also considered the strengths and weaknesses of the country's current medical cannabis system and regulations. A medical patient, regardless of the circumstances, could still be prosecuted for impaired driving. This would help to identify which retailers are operating with permission from local authorities and guard against opening in locations frequented by youth and children. Sources of this data may include sectors such as health care (e.g., visits to emergency departments and hospitalizations), law enforcement (e.g., police-reported incidents and charges), industry (e.g., cultivation and manufacturing data) and transportation (e.g., traffic accident data). They contended this would allow for better tracking and consistency of product with a secure and traceable supply chain and would enhance patient safety. These products may be more attractive to users and then sold illegally. Ideally, all of our recommendations would be based on clear, well-documented evidence. Hall W, Degenhardt L. The adverse health effects of chronic cannabis use. Many advocated for a regime that allows for strict oversight and regulation and close co-operation between federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments in establishing the production regime. Its report to Government is still in development. The most well-established long term harm of regular marijuana use is addiction. Similarly, senior officials from the Government of Uruguay provided a detailed briefing to the Task Force regarding Uruguay's unique experience as the only country to date to have enacted a regulatory system for legal access to cannabis. Information for Health Care Professionals--Cannabis (marihuana, marijuana) and the cannabinoids. For many in the legal and law enforcement fields, the key issue is not the minimum age itself but the implications for those who ignore it, including those who sell to children and youth, and those under the minimum age who possess and use cannabis. Available from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/alt_formats/pdf/marihuana/med/infoprof-eng.pdf. UNODC, World Drug Report 2012 (United Nations publication, Sales No. The federal government will play a key role in facilitating this enhancement and ensuring it is capable of meeting the needs of the new regime. The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse advocated for a precautionary approach in regulating potency levels: “If the primary objective is public health, restrictions should be implemented, at least initially, to allow time for research on the health impacts of high-THC products. It is clear to us that both physician and patient interests will be served by advancing science and research on the therapeutic uses of cannabis and associated issues relating to dosage, potency, consumption methods, interactions with other medicines and adverse effects. The MMPR contain these features and could serve as a reference point for consideration of the nature and extent of the safeguards required in the legal marijuana regime. Limited experiences in other jurisdictions where separate medical and recreational markets coexist provide some interesting insights. Encouraging responsible environmental practices through less reliance on indoor lighting, irrigation networks and environmental controls (i.e., heating and cooling, humidity controls) can contribute to substantially reducing the environmental footprint of cannabis production facilities. The clear majority, however, suggested that the age limit should be set at somewhere between 18 and 21 years of age. Instances of explosions resulting from attempts to manufacture concentrates in a home-cultivation setting were also referenced. There was widespread agreement among stakeholders and experts that strict controls are necessary to assure product quality, security and safety, and to minimize diversion to the illicit market. About one-third of respondents felt that allowing home cultivation is the best way to ensure access for users of cannabis for medical purposes. Three allow for personal cultivation only. Globally, organized criminal groups reap large profits from the proceeds of cannabis production and trafficking. In taking a public health approach to the regulation of cannabis, the Task Force proposes measures that will maintain and improve the health of Canadians by minimizing the harms associated with cannabis use. The system must have the means to implement further measures, including THC limits (and limits to other cannabinoids or their ratios), should future evidence warrant it. Ottawa, ON: 2013 Feb. As one respondent to the online consultation put it: “Private production and home cultivation would be most appropriate and allow consumer demands to be met.”, Yes, home cultivation should be part of a legalized system 93%, No,  home cultivation shouldn't be part of a legalized system 4%, No,  home cultivation shouldn't be part of a legalized system 1%. The Task Force sought to engage youth by including them and youth-serving organizations in expert roundtables and by hosting a youth-focused roundtable. The Task Force sees the merits of both a government-run model and a private-enterprise model. Oversight: To be satisfied that the system is minimizing harms as intended, it will need close monitoring and rapid reporting of results in a number of areas, including regulatory compliance and population health. A complete list of all the organizations and individuals who provided submissions is included in Annex 3. Many have remarked that there is an inherent tension between these objectives. People with criminal records may have difficulty finding employment and housing, and may be prevented from travelling outside of Canada. Should new evidence on cannabis impairment merit changes in workplace safety policies, the federal government should work closely with the provincial and territorial governments, given their shared roles in the occupational health and safety system, to consider and respond to the implications of this evidence. Arguments against allowing for personal cultivation are largely shaped by current experience with large-scale grow-ops operating in a clandestine fashion in communities across Canada. 2009;18(3):185−93. We are less certain about some of the longer-term effects (e.g., risks of permanent harms to mental functioning and risks of depression and anxiety disorders) but more certain about others (e.g., dependence). While moving away from cannabis prohibition is long overdue, we may not anticipate every nuance of future policy; after all, our society is still working out issues related to the regulation of alcohol and tobacco. Mr. Souccar served as Vice President of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police from 2005 to 2010 and co-chaired its Drug Abuse Committee from 2002 to 2005. While the new legislation will apply to cannabis, including industrial hemp, we believe a lighter regime should be designed to regulate the industrial hemp industry. Small-scale cultivation of cannabis in the home is not without risks. We were told on many occasions that we need to find a balance for cannabis. While this approach has benefits for consumers, it is also seen as something that could help to reduce harms by offering users advice on issues such as dosage and potency. Over the months that followed, we came to appreciate the collective importance of our varied viewpoints and to recognize the potential impact of our work. Superintendent Jesso has been involved on a national level as a participant in the "Emerging Issues in Drug Enforcement" Workshop with delegates representing law enforcement, justice, academia, and health and social service sectors. Decriminalization is viewed, by most observers, as consistent with the drug conventions, particularly where it involves personal consumption of small amounts of "soft drugs". Such young, frequent users were more likely to feel disconnected from their school or community, to be dependent on alcohol or other substances, or to have attempted suicide. Dr. Boyd is the author of seven scholarly books and numerous articles and book chapters in the areas of drug policy and law; cannabis growing and regulation; media representations; heroin-assisted treatment; women, pregnancy, and mothering; the history of drug prohibition; and harm reduction. On June 30, 2016, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and the Minister of Health announced the creation of a Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation ("the Task Force"). A robust and regulated production, distribution and retail network that meets demand in the domestic market will help curb the illicit market and help identify those who operate outside the legal market. Available from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/alt_formats/pdf/marihuana/info/cons-eng.pdf, Health Canada. Cannabis Regulation: Experiences, Impacts and Lessons Learned In Colorado. In terms of the organizations who participated in the online consultation, they were more likely to describe themselves as NGOs/non-profits, followed by health-care associations/organizations. Some of the key lessons learned that have been reported from the Colorado and Washington State experiences include: When contemplating changes to the illegal status of marijuana, countries must also give due consideration to the rule of law and to their obligations under the UN conventions. Finally, different delivery models carry different considerations e.g., ability to prevent sales to minors, access in remote locations, local tax base, ability to distinguish between sales of legally produced marijuana from illicit product, and so on. It was suggested that brand differentiation would help consumers distinguish between licit and illicit sources of cannabis, helping to drive them to the legal market. In considering the experience of other jurisdictions and the views of experts, stakeholders and the public, we sought to strike a balance between implementing appropriate restrictions, in order to minimize the harms associated with cannabis use, and providing adult access to a regulated supply of cannabis while reducing the scope and scale of the illicit market and its social harms. Furthermore, governments must, as part of their broader education initiatives, ensure that material is developed and made available to support patients in their use of cannabis for medical purposes. Throughout our consultations, there was support for commercial production of cannabis being left in the hands of the private sector. This is a separate concept from legalization). In weighing the arguments for and against limitations on edibles, the majority of the Task Force concluded that allowing these products offers an opportunity to better address other health risks. We explored the issue in remote corners of Canada as well as outside our borders. Medicinal Chemistry Research 23(9): 4295-4300. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities recommended that all retailers that distribute cannabis be licensed similar to producers. Timely data collection, evaluation and reporting of results will be key to the successful development of the system. Canada is party to the three major United Nations (UN) Conventions on narcotic drugs. This new legislation could bring together, in a single coherent set of provisions and regulations, the full range of issues relating to cannabis, including the production and marketing of cannabis products, their medical uses and regulation of the hemp industry. Support for prevention and education activities, addictions treatment, counselling, law enforcement and other services to deal with the negative aspects of marijuana use and abuse. Oils and other products having higher THC concentrations (greater than 15%), which are used for therapeutic purposes, should not be sold for recreational use.”. A few recommended a maximum of 15% THC potency in all products, though it is unclear why this level was chosen; there was also some acknowledgement that there is insufficient evidence to identify a "safe" potency limit. Sewell RA, Poling J, Sofuoglu M. The effects of cannabis compared with alcohol on driving. Experts stated that the knowledge that impairment could and would be detected, coupled with the certainty of swift and meaningful sanctions, was the most effective way of deterring unwanted driving behaviours. Unlike the MMAR, where patients could cultivate to supply their personal medical needs or designate someone to do so for them, the MMPR was based solely on commercial production, whereby individuals requiring access could purchase quality-controlled product from a producer licensed by Health Canada. Submissions pointed to the United States (U.S.) where Alaska and Colorado allow for modest levels of cultivation for personal use. Safeguards to prevent the co-consumption with alcohol, prevent underage use, and protect health and safety should be implemented. To complement the implementation of a system of penalties and enforcement, a robust and ongoing national public education campaign requires proper funding and implementation as soon as possible, prior to legalization. These objectives are achieved largely through actions such as setting a minimum age for purchase, educational tools aimed at promoting responsible use, and taxation measures. There are those who operate complex organized criminal enterprises who engage in violence and pose a threat to the public safety and well-being of Canadians. In U.S. states where cannabis is legal, governments have aligned the minimum age at 21 for alcohol and cannabis consumption.
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