‘The kids are alright’: reflections on two years of legal cannabis in Canada
“Reefer madness” has not overtaken Canada. Two years into the legal regime of cannabis and statistics indicate that marijuana use has not skyrocketed. Nationally, cannabis use amongst Canadians 15 years and older increased by two per cent (between 2018 and 2019), with six provinces reporting no change in the percentage of users. Similarly, six per […]
Meanwhile, back in the pharma wars
OTTAWA—Never has the need for national pharmacare been more evident than during the current pandemic, as access to medications has become more iffy as a result of lost workplace health insurance during rising unemployment and widespread strains on household finances. In one step toward the creation of a universal drug insurance plan to match up […]
NDP MP Blaikie urges quick response to Elections Canada pandemic-related reform asks
After attempting to jumpstart a conversation on electoral reforms needed amid the pandemic during the summer to no avail, NDP MP Daniel Blaikie says he hopes to see a quick response to Elections Canada’s recent recommendations. “It’s frustrating. We’ve known about the nature of this Parliament since the election; that it was a minority Parliament. […]
Industry looks to hash out new regulations on cannabis beverages
One year after the legalization of cannabis edible, cannabis beverage producers and retailers are expressing frustration with how edible products are regulated under the Cannabis Act, arguing Health Canada is regulating the wrong aspect. Their issue is with the cannabis equivalency factor, which determines how much of a given cannabis product an individual is allowed […]
Adding a racial lens to the legislated review of the Cannabis Act
The story of the enforcement of cannabis laws in Canada is one of historical injustice and inequality. Indeed, it is undisputed by this government that one of the greatest injustices in our country is the disparity and disproportionality of the enforcement of cannabis laws and the impact this has had on Black communities, Aboriginal communities, […]
In continuing opioid crisis, cannabis can’t be overlooked as a life-saving measure
Long derided as a gateway to so-called hard drug use, recent scientific findings have raised the possibility that cannabis might be an off-ramp from the overdose crisis. While the coronavirus pandemic dominates headlines, the overdose crisis is about to enter its sixth year, having claimed the lives of more than 16,000 Canadians. Sparked by the […]
Cannabis with Edibles
Superclusters’ long-term economic impacts, benefits will only become evident over next few years
The Innovation Superclusters Initiative is a flagship co-investment with private industry in five sectors in which Canada has demonstrated significant competitive advantages: digital technologies, protein industries, next-generation manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and ocean science. These sectors represent the world-leading ecosystems of tomorrow, and will unleash Canadian innovation further and faster through public-private partnerships. The five superclusters […]
‘Do you wanna double check that, please?’: high-stakes House shenanigans came with much-needed moments laughs, as MPs staved off #elxn44 (for now)
There were some laughs in the House during last week’s nail-biter confidence vote brought on by a Conservative motion that could have sent voters to the polls amid a global pandemic, which still might happen, by the way. While it ultimately turned out to be all for naught, with the NDP and Greens siding with […]
An innovative economy requires an innovative government
We’ve got to do more with less. I’m betting that every minister has uttered this phrase more than once during his or her mandate. The trouble is, if you really want to do more with less, you need to innovate. You must embrace change. You must be willing to throw out your current assumptions, procedures […]
