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, […]
Did Justin Trudeau really wreck Alberta’s economy?
Western alienation has dominated much of the political discussion following the Oct. 21 federal election that brought the Liberals back to power with a minority government without a single seat in Alberta or Saskatchewan. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged it in his election night victory speech, and reporters grilled him about it in his first […]
Federal government must promote green energy, not oil sands
MONTREAL—Canada has committed itself to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, emissions that trap heat, by 30 per cent, by 2030 compared with their 2005 level, in order to limit climate change caused by these emissions. But it is in danger of missing this reduction target, primarily because of the growth of its oil and natural […]
Antidote to a polarizing election: let’s work together to bridge the divides
What can we conclude from a federal election that resulted in a minority government reflecting stark regional and, in some cases, urban/rural divides? That we need to work together to bridge those divides. And with a minority government, we’ve all been given a golden opportunity to do just that. Let’s make the most of the […]
Change is happening, and Kenney and Moe can’t escape this reality
TORONTO—The election results were barely in before cries of Western alienation were hitting the airwaves. The premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Jason Kenney and Scott Moe, had used the election to wage all-out war against the Trudeau Liberals and, in a narrow sense, they won, capturing all but one seat in the two provinces for […]
