CANNABISTHE HILL TIMES POLICY BRIEFING JANUARY 22, 2018 MUNICIPALITIES KEY TO SAFE, EFFECTIVE A LOOK AHEAD AT CANNABIS CANNABIS LEGALIZATION LEGALIZATION IN 2018 CANNABIS GOVERNMENT LEGALIZATION FALLING BEHIND ON IN CANADA: CANNABIS THE CASE FOR PUBLIC PARDONS & PREFERENTIAL EDUCATION LICENSING SAY CRITICS MJ-101: LIBERALS’ TIME FOR ANSWER TO DRUG IMPAIRED ‘HIGHER’ DRIVING? KNOWLEDGE PRECIOUS LITTLE ABOUT CANNABIS 16 MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018 | THE HILL TIMES Cannabis Policy Briefing A look ahead at cannabis legalization in 2018 cultivation, testing, sales and trade—meant Perhaps most pressing for the Where we are now to accommodate for “micro-growers” and Under two separate but connected pieces different business niches—security clear- Liberal government is getting of legislation introduced last year, the Lib- ances, supply chain monitoring, and infor- eral government set the national blueprint, mative packaging and labelling. Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act, or baseline, for the legalization of marijua- From there, Health Canada will publish through an increasingly na. In the bills, the Trudeau government set a summary of feedback received and then the minimum legal age to purchase marijua- decide its final regulations before publish- unpredictable Senate. na at 18 years old, though the provinces and ing it at time of legalization. territories are still allowed to set higher age Health Canada has also hired more thresholds, and introduced stiffer penal- BY JOLSON LIM inspectors and moved to inspect the use of ties for distributing marijuana to underage The Senate, pictured, is the site of the final pesticides by producers, after industry con- users and for driving while stoned, among rime Minister Justin Trudeau set off the legislative debate over marijuana legalization. cerns with the quality of the department’s other regulatory measures. The Hill Times file photograph regulators. Pcountdown clock when he announced Also, a new agreement stipulates that last month that cannabis would be legal in However, Canadian researchers still Ottawa will receive 25 per cent of tax rules to come into effect. It passed through Canada by the summer of 2018, however need to apply for a special exemption to revenue from legal marijuana, with the the House on Nov. 27, with support from there are still plenty of issues to sort out work with cannabis, and there have been provinces and territories keeping the rest. the governing Liberals, the NDP, Green before Canadians can legally light up, and few details from Health Canada on what Total revenue for the federal government is Party Leader Elizabeth May (Saanich-Gulf some that will linger even after that. it will do to expand the country’s pot re- capped at $100 million annually, based on Islands, B.C.), and Conservative MP Scott Legislation introduced by the Liberal search capacity, as it has already pledged projections of $400 million of pot revenue Reid (Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston, Ont.). It government legalizing and regulating to do. generated across Canada each year. A was opposed by the rest of the Conserva- marijuana use and possession must still gram of pot will be priced around $10 to tives and the Bloc Québécois caucus. pass through the less partisan structured ensure competitiveness, according to the In the Senate, the bill is expected to face Provinces and territories Senate, and provinces, cities, and law Ontario passed its cannabis law on Dec. agreement between the feds and provinces. opposition from the 33-member Conserva- enforcement organizations are still rush- 12, the first province in Canada to do so. The burgeoning cannabis industry will be tive caucus, who have largely come out ing to prepare themselves to sell and tax With Ontario being the most populated governed by new regulations and safe and re- against legalization and have expressed marijuana, and contend with a new set of province, and plans to sell pot in the same sponsible production that will be enforced by concerns that the Liberal government is laws on its use. manner as the LCBO, it may very well Health Canada inspectors. As of Jan. 12, there moving too fast. Legalization will also pave the way for make the province the world’s largest are 85 licensed producers, more than dou- But the biggest concern for Sen. Peter the rise of an expectedly multi-billion dol- marijuana dealer. bling the total from May, calming fears that Harder (Ontario), the government’s rep- lar cannabis industry, with Health Canada Six provinces and territories plan to legalization would result in a supply crunch resentative in the Senate, will be winning and provincial and territorial counterparts sell pot through government-run stores. because of the lack of licensed producers. over the largest group in the Upper Cham- tasked with developing the rulebook for The rest want either have a mix of private ber, the Independent Senators Group. The this new corporate domain. And then stores and government-operated online ISG holds 39 seats in the105-member Sen- there’s renewed calls to pardon Canadians The Senate sales. Nine provinces, including Ontario, ate, but does not function as a traditional previously convicted of petty possession The Cannabis Act, or Bill C-45, was have set the minimum age for purchase at partisan caucus, with members not given offences, and lingering questions about tabled in the House of Commons in April 19. Alberta and Quebec have set it at 18. explicit instructions on a piece of legisla- public education and awareness campaigns 2017, and would changes part of the Provincial governments are likely to tion. The Senate Liberal caucus, which has warning of the health risks of marijuana Criminal Code to legalize marijuana and face criticism from cities and First Nations no formal ties to the governing Liberals use. allow the federal government’s proposed communities and their police forces, who in the House, make up another 15 votes. will have to bear the brunt of servicing There are also seven non-affiliated Sena- and enforcement costs. First Nations are tors and 11 vacancies, as of Jan. 19. not satisfied with the consultation the The Upper Chamber will hold a special federal and provincial governments has ‘committee of the whole’ meeting on Feb. had with Indigenous communities. Cities 6, to bring all senators together to consider are demanding a piece of the revenue pie the legislation and question the three cabi- from provinces to help fund needed service net ministers responsible for the cannabis programs. file and Liberal MP Bill Blair (Scarborough Doctors and nurses will have to be Southwest, Ont.), the government’s point educated on cannabis, and patients are man on pot. expected to ask many questions on its A Conservative attempt to amend the therapeutic potential. motion to include four more ministers for questioning throughout February was nar- rowly voted down, hinting that some sena- After legalization tors may try to extend debate on the Bill But once the smoke settles and pot C-45, which ISG Sen. Tony Dean (Ontario) becomes legal, there will still be work to is sponsoring. CBC reported on Jan. 13 that do on the cannabis file for policymakers in time allocation was being considered for Ottawa and across the country. the cannabis bill. Thanks to an NDP amendment to Bill C-45, the the Liberal government must in- troduce legislation on the legality of mari- Creating a regulatory framework juana edibles and concentrated pot within a year. As well, regulations are likely to be tweaked to reflect unanticipated challeng- es, and responsible federal, provincial, and territorial departments will likely need to staff up to meet new service needs. Then there’s the state of play in the can- nabis industry. What will it look like? Will it be dominated by big corporate entities? Or will there be a vast and competitive corporate landscape? And what role will Ottawa play in structuring the cannabis production industry? Liberal MP Bill Blair and Health Minister Then, there’s the future of the mari- Ginette Petitpas Taylor, pictured during an juana education and awareness campaigns. announcement in the House foyer on Nov. 21, What shape will they take once cannabis is are critical players on the cannabis file.The Hill legal to purchase? Health Canada received Times photo by Andrew Meade millions in funding last fall to launch a public education campaign, though noth- Last May, Health Canada promised ing has sprung up since. to streamline its regulatory approach for Finally, Public Safety Minister Ralph marijuana production, which producers Goodale (Regina-Wascana, Sask.) recently had long complained was too slow and confirmed that department officials are complex. Health Canada released its latest examining possible pardons and criminal proposed regulatory framework on Nov. 20, record suspensions for certain cannabis opening it up to feedback through a 60-day possession crimes. consultation period that ended Jan. 20. What will that look like? The department’s proposals include [email protected] categorizing licensing between processing, The Hill Times LET’S HAVE THE RIGHT CONVERSATION ABOUT ADULT-USE CANNABIS

While there are many views on how best to legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis use in Canada, there are two fundamental things the industry and government agree on:

1) cannabis needs to stay out of the hands of children 2) we must eradicate the black market

The cannabis How successful the industry is in doing both will depend on the ability to differentiate between legal and illegal cannabis products. Adult consumers need to clearly see the value of legal cannabis, including safety, quality and industry and consistency.

government want How do we make that happen? A critical first step is to ensure regulators allow Licensed Producers of adult-use cannabis to advertise their products, the same thing: develop identifiable brands and educate consumers about responsible use. The Coalition for Responsible Cannabis Branding – which represents keeping cannabis approximately 90 per cent of the current legal medical cannabis market, in consultation with Advertising Standards Canada – has developed proposed responsible, common sense cannabis branding and marketing guidelines. If away from kids endorsed by government, these guidelines would allow Licensed Producers to explain to adult consumers why their products are better and safer than those and out of the offered on the black market. The industry is committed to working with federal, provincial and territorial black market governments as long-term partners to protect public health and safety, and combat the illicit market. Allowing Licensed Producers to communicate to adult consumers effectively is a critical component of achieving these shared goals.

To read the Coalition for Responsible Cannabis Branding’s proposed branding and marketing guidelines visit: http://bit.ly/cannabisguidelines.

The Coalition for Responsible Cannabis Branding (Coalition) is made up of 17 of Canada’s authorized Licensed Cannabis Producers, along with the Canadian Medical Cannabis Council and Cannabis Canada Association. Participating Licensed Producers include:

TheHillsTimes_Advertorial_V4.indd 1 1/19/18 3:56 PM 18 MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018 | THE HILL TIMES Cannabis Policy Briefing How our plan to legalize cannabis will strengthen health, justice, and public safety

Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor, experts, and we continue to seek feedback small amounts of cannabis. We agree and nabis Legalization and Regulation, we have Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, and through public consultation including on the want to make sure that we protect young set a very low limit on the number of plants Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale proposed regulatory regime for cannabis. people from the health harms of cannabis allowed per household as a reasonable way We are working closely with national while also avoiding the negative impacts on to allow adults to cultivate cannabis for their Opinion Indigenous organizations and Indigenous their future from a criminal record. This is personal use, while prohibiting larger-scale he current approach of cannabis prohi- communities to understand their views and why Bill C-45 proposes to exempt youth from commercial grow-ops that are of concern to Tbition has failed to protect our com- respond to their needs and priorities in areas criminal liability for possessing or sharing communities today. munities and our youth. Canadian youth such as health, economic development, pub- very small amounts of cannabis. At the same We also know that some Canadians are use cannabis at rates that are amongst the lic safety, and public health education. For time, we have been encouraging provinces concerned about drug-impaired driving. It highest in the world. Our latest survey in- example, we expanded the scope of existing and territories to establish offences to prohibit is already a major contributor to fatal road dicates that 21 per cent of teens aged 15-19 economic development programs to better young people from possessing any amount of crashes and has been increasing year after and 30 per cent of young adults aged 20-24 support Indigenous entrepreneurs interested cannabis. This approach would provide police year. This is a problem right now. According reported using cannabis in the past year. in participating in the cannabis industry, with the authority to seize cannabis from to Health Canada’s 2017 Cannabis Survey, 39 The illegal market is thriving, resulting in and introduced a navigator service designed youth, while not subjecting them to harsh per cent of respondents who used cannabis billions of dollars in profits for criminals to guide Indigenous applicants through the criminal sanctions. All provinces and territo- in the past 12 months reported driving within and organized crime; it operates without licensing process for cannabis production. ries that have introduced cannabis legislation two hours of using cannabis. While 33 per oversight, accountability or regard for the Some Canadians are worried that legal- have established such prohibitions. This plan cent of driver fatalities in auto crashes involve health and well-being of Canadians. izing and regulating cannabis will increase would put an end to the stigmatization of alcohol, 40 per cent involve drugs. Our government is proposing a solu- youth access. But let’s be clear: Canadian young people through criminal records for To combat this problem, we introduced Bill tion—legalizing and regulating cannabis for youth already have easy access to cannabis possession of small quantities of cannabis. C-46 to strengthen drug- and alcohol-impaired adults—which aims to prevent youth from today as demonstrated by high use rates. Bill We are also mindful of the concerns of driving laws. And we’re investing $274-million accessing cannabis, protect public health by C-45 contains extensive provisions to keep those who have existing criminal records. to support law enforcement and border efforts establishing strict product quality and safety cannabis out of the hands of young people, While pardons are already available for to detect and deter drug-impaired driving, and requirements, and deter criminal activity by including advertising restrictions, packaging simple possession, once Bill C-45 is enacted, to enforce the new cannabis regime. imposing serious penalties for those operat- and labelling restrictions, and new criminal we will examine how to make things fairer We have also launched a national public ing outside the legal framework. Our propos- offences for providing or selling cannabis to for Canadians who have been previously awareness campaign to counter the myths al is supported by the best available evidence youth. Clear labelling will ensure that those convicted for minor possession offences. and misconceptions that continue to persist as well as guidance from the Task Force on of legal age who do choose to use cannabis In this same vein, our proposed legislation about cannabis-impaired driving. The mes- Cannabis Legalization and Regulation. are alerted to potential health harms and allows for the cultivation of a limited amount sage is simple: don’t drive high. Soon we Since committing to legalization and know the contents of what they are using. of cannabis at home, which not only prevents will launch our public education campaign regulation in 2015, we have been working We are also investing $46-million over five unnecessary criminalization of otherwise law- on the health effects of cannabis. toward achieving this goal in a thoughtful years in public education, awareness, and abiding adults who grow a limited number Our government is confident that we and measured way. Over the past two years, surveillance activities to inform Canadians of plants in a safe and responsible manner are putting in place strong legislation that we have heard from tens of thousands of about the health risks of using cannabis. for their personal use, but also supports our will help keep cannabis out of the hands of Canadians, including medical professionals, Other Canadians believe that we should objective of displacing the illegal market. Fol- young people and displace the illegal can- police services, city officials, and industry not criminalize youth for possessing very lowing the advice of the Task Force on Can- nabis market.

AT CANOPY, WE’RE DEDICATED TO GROWTH.

We fund campaigns to raise awareness about cannabis impaired driving.

We’re building resources to educate families.

We fund research initiatives that improve the lives of Canadians.

Learn more at CanopyGrowth.com

HERE’S TO FUTURE GROWTH.

CGC_Hill TImes Cannabis Edition - Full Page Ad.indd 1 2018-01-18 7:35 PM 20 MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018 | THE HILL TIMES Cannabis Policy Briefing

November. The education campaign run by on how much THC—the main ingredient Health Canada, will focus on federal laws in cannabis that causes people to become as well as the health impacts of smoking up. high—is found in the driver’s system, and Government falling Officials from Washington and Colorado whether it is combined with alcohol. states—places that legalized marijuana in Young people are a key target of the cam- 2012 officially, with sales starting in 2014— paigns as they are the largest demographic warned the Canadian government to make of cannabis users, and the scientific consen- behind on cannabis sure public education is in place well in sus is that marijuana can harm developing advance of legalization. Their jurisdictions brains, especially with the higher THC levels didn’t have public education campaigns today. Cannabis use rates have dropped in until well after legalization, as the funding the last few years, but Canada still has one was coming from marijuana tax revenue. of the highest rates in the developed world. public education, Tammy Jarbeau, a Health Canada The campaign will also target Indigenous spokesperson, said the department will peoples, pregnant women, and others. launch a national advertising campaign Mr. Davies said he gives the government on cannabis health facts targeting youth a failing grade on public education, adding say critics and young adults this spring. Both NDP that it is significantly underfunding public MP Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, education compared to what Colorado and BY EMILY HAWS B.C.) and Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu Washington spent. In October, the Cana- Health Canada says its national (Sarnia-Lambton, Ont.), their parties’ dian government announced $36.4-million education advertising campaign ealth Canada says it will launch a respective health critics, said they haven’t over the next five years for a cannabis edu- Hnational public education advertis- heard anything about it. Ms. Gladu said cation and awareness campaign, divided as is set to launch in the spring, but ing campaign on cannabis in the spring, she had heard that a small campaign ex- $22.5-million in planned spending over the critics warn it should have been though critics say it should have already isted, but has not seen any proof of it. The first two years, and $13.9 in the three years been in place in order to educate the public Conservatives are against the legalization following. This new money is in addition in place months ago to make ahead of the July 1 legalization deadline. of cannabis, whereas the NDP have said if to the planned $9.6-million over five years sure youth are prepared for July The impaired driving campaign run by elected the would immediately decriminal- that was announced in the 2017 budget, Public Safety,“Don’t Drive High”, has been ize the drug, and then legalize it. which focuses on public education, aware- 1’s cannabis legalization. popping up in social media feeds since “We heard clearly from colleagues in U.S. ness, and surveillance activities. states that have legalized cannabis for non- That amounts to about $1.27 spent per medical purposes that early public education Canadian over five years, or about $0.25 is critical,” said Ms. Jarbeau. “Our approach per Canadian annually. According to to public education follows this advice, learn- House Health Committee testimony, Wash- ing from the experiences of others.” ington spends US$7.5-million annually on Since the introduction of the proposed its population of seven million, working out legislation, Health Canada has run an ongo- to about $1.07 person per year. Colorado ing digital campaign including social media, spends about US$9-million per year on its Ms. Jarbeau said, as well as the development population of 5.5 million, working out to of a kit to inform the public of the risks. $1.63 per person annually. The best way to find out “To date, Health Canada has distributed “If you put it in terms of people, we’re more than 170,000 copies of the Drug Free spending basically a dollar for every Cana- Kids Canada Cannabis Talk Kit in addition dian over five years, and they’re spending to those [downloaded],” Ms. Jarbeau said in a dollar per person, per year,” he said. what Canadian youth an email, adding that educational initia- When brought up at the House Health tives started in the spring of 2017 and will Committee on Sept. 12, Kristi Weeks, the gov- be expanded in 2018. ernment relations director of the Washington think about cannabis … Despite Health Canada saying a digital State Department of Health, recommended campaign exists, when one Googles “public the Canadian government have more than the education marijuana campaign Canada” $9-million in proposed funding at the time. nothing about the campaign pops up. “One tip I would give to you ... is to is to ask them. Googling “don’t drive high campaign mari- make sure you have that educational fund- juana Canada” brings up the campaign’s ing up front,” she said. “That you don’t rely website, with information and the ads. just on taxation dollars, because doing that Liberal MP Bill Blair (Scarborough is going to put you behind the eight ball.” Southwest, Ont.)—parliamentary secretary We did. to the justice and health ministers and the ‘You can’t start soon enough’: government’s point-person on pot—was con- tacted for this story, but was unavailable. Davies Awareness campaigns are needed The House Health Committee studied because the public assumes a product is Bill C-45 this fall hearing from 120 witness- safe when legalized. Bill C-45, known as es, including officials from Washington, the Cannabis Act, was introduced in the Colorado, as well as Canadian experts. House in April, it received third reading in Witnesses testified that the late timing the House on Nov. 27 and passed second of the Colorado and Washington campaigns reading in the Senate on Nov. 30. A key was problematic because youth didn’t part of the Liberal platform, it is meant to understand risks or implications. Peter prevent young people from accessing can- Howlett, of the addiction treatment facility nabis, to protect public health and safety Portage Canada, testified on Sept. 13 that by establishing quality control regimes, according to one study, by 2013 marijuana and to deter criminal activity by increasing use in Colorado was 55 per cent above the consequences for those operating illegally. national average among teens and young In parallel is Bill C-46, referred to adults, and 86 per cent higher for those 25 Senate’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs and older Committee on Dec. 14, which looks to curb Another study, he said, looked at mari- driving while high on cannabis by creat- juana usage rates in Colorado from two ing three new offences for having specified years before and after legalization for the levels of a drug in the blood within two hours of driving. The penalties will depend Continued on page 20

Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu scrums at Health Committee, September 12, 2017. As her party’s health clinic, she said it Learn more about is important youth know Canadian Youth Perceptions on Cannabis the unintended risks of marijuana use, such as at CCSA.CA being barred entry from the United States, where the drug is illegal federally. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018 21 Policy BriefingCannabis Health Canada adding staff, launching new branch, in preparation for legal pot

and editor-in-chief of Lift Cannabis, a part- society” will become increasingly pertinent To deal with its new oversight consulting, part-cannabis news company. as legalization approaches, with more Ca- duties, Health Canada created nadians, for example, asking doctors about Prohibition, tobacco control marijuana’s purported therapeutic benefits. a cannabis legalization and Mark Ware, a McGill University profes- program of the 1990s closest sor and vice-chair of the legalization and regulation branch. comparison to cannabis shake-up regulation task force, told The Hill Times BY JOLSON LIM The most recent policy initiative compa- that there needs to be better “harmoniza- rable to marijuana legalization in scope and tion and interconnection between different ealth Canada is taking the lead on the complexity was the tightening of regulations research groups” on marijuana. Hmarijuana file in Ottawa in advance on the tobacco industry undertaken by the He said better organizing with the help of the summer deadline for legalization, Chretien government in the 1990s, according of Health Canada can ensure people aren’t overseeing product licensing and regula- to Ivan Ross Vrána, vice-president of public “duplicating efforts and using limited re- Health Canada has been tasked with overseeing tions, quality monitoring, health research, affairs with Hill+Knowlton Strategies and a sources” on similar projects. cannabis producers under the federal and public education. former Health Canada official who worked Some cannabis researchers have already government’s marijuana legalization framework. In preparation, the department is trans- on the medical marijuana file. gathered together to meet on the matter, A marijuana growing facility in Smith Falls, forming in ways unseen in decades, ac- But even then, the tobacco regulations, such as one gathering organized by the Ont. run by Tweed Inc., now Canopy Growth, is cording to experts and a former Liberal which mostly focused on tightening packaging Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse last pictured. The Hill Times file photograph health minister, adding new inspectors and rules and improved enforcement, fail to match year. Researchers have also proposed an staff to deal with backlogged licensing ap- the scale of the legalization mandate, he said, independent research body to organize and plications and increased service demands, with Health Canada being asked to essentially requirements for research. Health Minister prioritize different pot-related research. and creating the Cannabis Legalization regulate and oversee an entirely new industry. Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Moncton-Riverview- Dr. Ware said that there also needs to be and Regulation Branch to handle its new “The regulatory responsibility is quite Dieppe, N.B.), though, hasn’t released more better access to materials used to research marijuana-related functions. awesome,” Mr. Vrána told The Hill Times. information about how this would take place. cannabis and an increased analytical capacity “Will there be more human resources, “It means a growth in resources, in peo- “It doesn’t make much sense to me that in laboratories that can better study complex more financial resources to do what they ple who understand the file, which they’ve in a number of months, we’re going to be molecules and human urine, blood and saliva. need to do on the regulatory side? Absolutely been doing for the last couple of years.” able to as adults to walk out to basically a The Canadian Institute for Health Re- they will,” said Anne McLellan, who served Mr. Vrána described Health Canada’s corner store and buy cannabis, and yet we search, a federal research funding organiza- as Liberal health minister from 2002-03 and efforts to ready itself as “incremental,” with will have to go through regulations for can- tion under Ms. Taylor’s purview, will allocate headed the federal government’s 2016 task much of the preparation and capacity- nabis access similar to if we were going to about $1-million this year for 10 cannabis re- force on cannabis legalization and regulation. building work beginning soon after the be experimenting on heroin and cocaine,” search projects. CIHR has approved $6.8-mil- “And my guess is, over time, they will Liberals took power in 2015 on a campaign said M-J Milloy, research scientist with the lion in funding for 15 different projects since need more.” platform promising to legalize marijuana. British Columbia Centre on Substance Use. 2017, the Globe and Mail reported. The Liberal government earmarked Ms. McLellan said it’s “too soon” to Dr. Milloy told The Hill Times that can- [email protected] $526-million over five years in last Oc- predict the scope of the changes cannabis nabis research from the “molecule up to The Hill Times tober’s fall economic statement to ready legalization will bring to Health Canada, the federal government for legalization, noting that the task force she chaired on Open letter by the Honourable Christian Paradis, Senior Vice President at GardaWorld and former federal minister from 2008 to providing $432-million, or 82 per cent of the file warned Ottawa to expect surprises 2015 (Public Works and Government Services, Natural Resources, Industry and International Development, and la Francophonie) the new cash, to Health Canada. and unintended consequences. However, The newly-formed cannabis branch is she said the department was no stranger to led by assistant deputy minister Jacqueline handling regulations on health and safety, LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS: ENSURING CANADIANS Bogden. The federal electronic directory even if the closest precedent in Canada shows the new branch includes its own would have to be the repeal of the tempo- SAFETY WITHOUT BURDENING POLICE OFFICERS legalization and regulation secretariat, an rary prohibition on alcohol in 1920. The recreational use of cannabis will become legal within One example that quickly comes to mind is a truck full of organization and launch directorate, and “They understand what regulatory regimes months in Canada, and there will inevitably be repercus- cannabis which leaves the production site and has to travel a the Office of Medical Cannabis. look like and challenges around enforcement. sions. Several questions on security and enforcing laws and few hundred kilometres to the storage facility. This truck can be The secretariat has its own external They’ve been working on the food and drug regulations related to the legalization of cannabis are raised. a target for criminals; a much larger target than a truck loaded relations division, a policy legislative and space for decades,” Ms. McLellan said. GardaWorld mandated the leading firm in Canada, Ipsos with food, toys, or alcohol. The industry can offer a secure trans- regulatory affairs division, and task force Public Affairs, to conduct a scientific survey on the use of portation service, as it already does, with cash transportation. support division. Producers applying for Questions remain with shaping security firms to support police forces to ensure the safety of a permit to grow cannabis communicate Canadians regarding the legalization of cannabis. In support of provinces, municipalities, with the Office of Medical Cannabis. cannabis research landscape GardaWorld, a Canadian entity, is one of the largest private and private businesses “Its [creation] implies that this is a In the push towards legalization, Health security companies in the world. It provides security guard services, cash transportation and processing services, and While elected municipal officials across the country express significant change in the way as a society Canada released proposed regulations for can- concern about the costs of implementing cannabis legaliza- we’ve viewed cannabis,” Ms. McLellan told nabis producers this past November, asking pre-boarding control services in airports. Its 62,000 dedicated and highly-qualified professionals serve a diversified clientele tion, the industry can provide less expensive solutions that are The Hill Times, noting that that it now has stakeholders to share their views over the 60- throughout North America, the Middle East, Africa and supported by the public. an obligation to “ensure they have the right day consultation period that ended on Jan. 20. Europe, across a broad range of sectors, including financial Private security companies can help ensure the safety of work- people in place with the right focus to pro- The department is also adding more staff institutions, infrastructures, natural resources and retail, ers and the public at cannabis storage facilities, production tect Canadians’ health and safety.” to address concerns from industry about the governments and humanitarian organizations. sites, and points of sale. “It would be shocking if they hadn’t cre- lack of inspectors, after it was discovered Furthermore, by enforcing laws and regulations related to the legal- ated it,” she said. that banned pesticides were used by three fed- Strong support ization of cannabis, such as monitoring public areas where consump- The Financial Post reported in Octo- erally-licensed producers early last year. Since Canadians expect a secure environment regarding the legal- tion will be prohibited, transportation, storage and points of sale, the ber that the funding allocated to Health then, Health Canada has moved to regulate the ization of cannabis and have expressed a significant level of industry is able to provide high quality, sophisticated services all while Canada in the fall update is earmarked for use of pesticides by cannabis producers. comfort relating to the involvement of serious private security ensuring the safety of the population. The industry is therefore calling implementing the new regulatory frame- Allan Rewak, acting executive director firms in support of police officers for: on the various levels of government to apply the necessary legislative work, expanding the capacity of licens- of the Cannabis Canada Association, which Surveillance of areas surrounding cannabis production sites: changes to make outsourcing possible or easier across Canada. ing and inspection, and compliance and represents licensed marijuana producers, said 70% are comfortable compared to 21% who are not. Putting the right people in the right places enforcement. It will also support expanded Health Canada has been hiring more inspec- Monitoring of warehousing and distribution centres for cannabis monitoring and research, a national public tors to address the backlog of applicant cases, products: 69% are comfortable compared to 21% who are not. Police forces are responding to increasingly complex crimes and though everyone from producers to govern- criminals. The majority of Canadians believe police officers should education and awareness campaign, and Surveillance of cannabis production sites: 69% are comfort- tracking systems and program support. ment will have to learn and adjust on the fly. focus their work on tracking down criminals for investigations able compared to 21% who are not. and patrolling, as opposed to managing traffic or issuing Health Canada didn’t respond to re- “We’ve all had to find our own way, and parking tickets. We should all make sure that our police forces quests before deadline asking exactly how Health Canada’s regulators are a part of Secure transport of cannabis products from production sites to warehousing and distribution centres: 66% comfortable are assigned to as many tasks for which they alone are trained much funding each area of focus would that,” he told The Hill Times. compared to 24% who are not. to undertake and let the private security industry offer the same receive and how many people work within Canada’s research community, though, quality support services but at a much lower cost. For the past few years, GardaWorld and the private security the legalization and regulation branch. is still waiting for answers from Health Hence, the legalization of cannabis should not place an unnecessary Canada after the department recommend- industry have clearly expressed that they are ready to play a The federal civil service also received greater role in supporting police forces. The industry can fulfill burden on our police officers by assigning them additional tasks an additional $36.4-million in the fall up- ed in November that researchers look- the duties for which its guards have been duly trained and that are not exclusive to their line of work. As we know, the private date for a cannabis education and aware- ing to work with cannabis apply first for regulated. security industry is qualified and well-equipped to perform such tasks, ness campaign, building on the $9.6-million a license. Currently, any researcher who and more importantly, Canadians are in favour of this notion. handed out in 2017 budget. wants to work with cannabis must apply Security throughout the value chain Health Canada has also brought in ex- for a legal exemption from the department. Canadians agree that the private security industry should support pertise outside the department, such as hir- However, Health Canada’s proposed regu- police officers by providing security across the entire cannabis value ing David Brown as a senior policy advisor. latory framework says the department should chain: from cannabis production to consumption by product users. Mr. Brown was director of communications streamline and rationalize the process and 22 MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018 | THE HILL TIMES Cannabis Policy Briefing

by then. Some 65,000 police is impaired. Per se limits inevitably officers will require training to mean that some drivers who are not understand Bill C-46; the Liberals’ impaired will be charged for being Liberals’ answer to drug impaired driving legislation. over the THC limit. More worri- Aside from the costs (which are some, some drivers who are im- significant), there simply won’t be paired will be under the THC limit enough time to take thousands of and get away with drug impaired drug impaired driving? police officers off the street to un- driving. This is hardly a way to keep dertake training by the summer. our roads safe from drug impaired To-date, the Liberals’ answer drivers; never mind the extensive to drug impaired driving has been litigation and court challenges that Bill C-46, a deeply flawed bill. are sure to follow, resulting in fur- Precious little Among other things, Bill C-46 ther delay to our already overbur- establishes per se limits for drug dened criminal justice system. Statistics like this shouldn’t come impaired driving based on THC The combination of a lack of The combination of as a surprise. After all, legalization concentration in the blood. This resources, insufficient time to train means that more Canadians are is consistent with per se limits law enforcement, as well as flawed a lack of resources, going to use marijuana. And that for alcohol impaired driving. The and unscientific per se limits, un- will mean more people will also get problem, however, is that unlike derlie the need for the Liberals to insufficient behind the wheel high. alcohol there is no clear correla- put the brakes on their rushed and time to train law So what have the Liberals tion between THC blood concen- arbitrary timeline to legalize mari- done to help law enforcement tration levels and impairment. juana. If they don’t, our roads are enforcement, as prepare for what is sure to be a Neither THC nor alcohol, impair going to become a lot more danger- significant spike in drug impaired the blood; they impair the brain. ous come the summer of 2018. well as flawed and Conservative MP Michael Cooper driving? Precious little. For alcohol, blood can be used as Conservative MP Michael Coo- good surrogate for the brain to per, who represents St. Albert- Bill C-46 To begin with, there is a short- unscientific per se age of drug recognition experts detect impairment. Not so with Edmonton, Alta., is his party’s limits, underlies the (DREs). DREs are the “gold stan- THC. There simply is no level of deputy justice critic. mpaired driving is the leading dard” in providing evidence of drug THC in the blood in which everyone The Hill Times need for the Liberals Icriminal cause of death and injury impairment. There are approxi- on Canada’s roads. Each year 1,200 mately 600 DREs across Canada. to put the brakes to 1,500 Canadians are killed at Law enforcement says that many the hands of a driver impaired by more DREs are needed to deal with on their rushed and alcohol or drugs. That works out the anticipated increase in drug to four to five Canadians a day. On impaired driving. Despite the need, arbitrary timeline to average, a staggering 60,000 more the Liberals haven’t done enough legalize marijuana. If are injured. Thanks to the Liberal to help. As a result, by the summer government’s decision to legal- of 2018 there won’t be many more they don’t, our roads ize marijuana, expect to see more DREs than there are now; far short carnage on Canada’s roads. One of what law enforcement says is are going to become need only look at other jurisdictions needed to detect and remove drug that have legalized marijuana. Take impaired drivers from our roads. a lot more dangerous Colorado. According to a U.S. gov- Then there’s the Liberals’ ernment study, marijuana-related rushed and arbitrary timeline to come the summer of traffic deaths increased on aver- legalize marijuana by the sum- 2018. age 48 per cent in the three years mer of 2018. Law enforcement People pictured at the 4/20 event on Parliament Hill on April 20, 2017. Conservative after Colorado legalized marijuana. says they simply can’t be ready MP Michael Cooper says Bill C-46 is flawed.The Hill Times file photograph

will soon be will needlessly harm vulnerable Ca- Health Minister made legal in nadians, particularly young people, Trudeau government Ginette Petitpas Taylor Canada, the NDP racialized communities, Indigenous and Liberal MP Bill has been clear people, and other marginalized Blair, parliamentary from the outset groups, mainly the poor. secretary to the that we should Parliament is well aware of the should create process minister of justice and immediately devastating consequences of carry- minister of health, decriminalize ing criminal convictions, especially pictured Nov. 21, the possession for young people, Indigenous and to pardon, expunge 2017, on the Hill of recreational marginalized Canadians. It is il- launching public cannabis for logical and unjust to continue this consultations on the personal use policy on the eve of legalization. criminal records regulatory approach pending full After the NDP and stakehold- for the Cannabis legalization. ers revealed gaping holes in the Act. The Hill Times Now, petty Liberal government’s cannabis leg- photograph by Andrew possession is a islation, the NDP proposed amend- of Canadians with Meade crime that the ments to C-45 that would provide print of Bill C-45 only to discover prime minister an expedited pardon process for that it is not legalization, but simply himself has admitted to committing Canadians carrying convictions for cannabis offences making cannabis less illegal. while serving as an elected official. cannabis offences that no longer From the start, the Liberals This admission of past cannabis use exist, but they were rejected. have refused to decriminalize belies his repeated assertion that Millions of Canadians use simple possession of cannabis, “Until we’ve changed the law, the cannabis. They have used it in the Given that cannabis despite calls from stakeholders current laws exist and apply.” I guess past, they will use it today, and possession will soon and the NDP. In the meantime, that means that they apply to other they will continue to use it in the thousands of Canadians are con- people and not to him. years to come. They are not crimi- be made legal in tinuing to get arrested, charged It is a shame and hypocrisy of nals. They are our parents, teach- and convicted for something the highest order that the current ers, friends, colleagues, loved ones, Canada, the NDP that will soon be legal, even government continues to pros- and citizens of this great country as our justice system remains ecute and convict Canadians for who voted for genuine cannabis has been clear from severely under-resourced. simple cannabis possession, which legalization in the last election. the outset that we For far too long, we have wast- is something the government ad- The NDP will continue to call NDP MP Don Davies ed billions of dollars in resources mits, should be legal. The govern- on the Trudeau government to should immediately Pardons & Offences in the criminal justice system by ment knows full well that current create a process to pardon and criminalizing otherwise law-abid- cannabis laws are not applied expunge the criminal records of decriminalize ing citizens at an alarming rate for consistently across this country. Canadians with cannabis offenc- hen the Liberals promised simply processing and consuming Indeed, their discriminatory im- es. We will also continue to work the possession WCanadians cannabis legaliza- cannabis. In fact, we still are. pact has been well documented by positively and constructively to tion in the last election, Canadians According to Statistics Canada, Canadian researchers, like Simon develop the smartest, safest, and of recreational understood legalization to mean the in 2016, under the Liberal govern- Fraser University’s Dr. Neil Boyd. most effective cannabis legisla- cannabis for personal end of criminalization, the end of ment after it promised Canadians Furthermore, given the extensive tion and regulations in the world, stigmatization, and the end of the legalization, there were 55,000 of- body of research on the negative because it is time we delivered. use pending full prohibitionist approach to cannabis. fences related to cannabis report- impacts of carrying a criminal NDP MP Don Davies is his It is why the NDP, along with ed to police, and police charged record, it is clear that pursuing party’s health critic and MP for legalization. millions of other Canadians, were 17,733 people with pot possession. thousands of convictions for actions Vancouver Kingsway, B.C. somewhat surprised to read the fine Given that cannabis possession that we no longer view as criminal The Hill Times THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018 23 Policy BriefingCannabis Must cannabis be grown in Fort Knox?

welcomes this government’s commitment to For some reason, the legalization. Unfortunately, these efforts are The problem marred by something of a “reefer-madness” is that growing government seems bound mindset. I attempted to amend the legis- cannabis indoors, and determined to confine lation to eliminate the extremely severe in addition to penalties for accidentally sharing cannabis being unnecessary, growing of cannabis to the with a minor. Those efforts failed. But much imposes a rather can be improved through regulations. large climate indoors. This is bizarre. For some reason, the government seems impact. An bound and determined to confine growing of astonishing amount Cannabis grows well cannabis to the indoors. This is bizarre. Can- of water and energy outdoors. In fact, it grows nabis grows well outdoors. In fact, it grows are required to like a weed. It is an ideal crop to replace grow cannabis like a weed. It is an ideal tobacco cultivation in many parts of Canada. indoors, writes However, ever since the first govern- Green Party leader crop to replace tobacco mental medical marijuana facility was Elizabeth May. built by Allan Rock in the abandoned mine The Hill Times file cultivation in many parts of tunnels of Flin Flon, Man., the cultivation photograph of cannabis has been consigned to the Canada. dark. When cannabis was a prohibited substance, indoors growing may have been A peer-reviewed study by Evan Mills, the potential to ramp up supply is far more defensible as the crop was a target for a senior scientist and energy expert attainable than with the indoor factory theft. But as a legal crop, there is no more at University of California Berkeley, approach. Because outdoor cultivation also need to grow it indoors than there is to estimates that a kilogram of cannabis has environmental impacts in energy use, grow tobacco indoors. product will produce 4,600 kilograms of fertilizer and pesticide run-off, the gold The problem is that growing cannabis greenhouse gases. (“The carbon foot- standard of regulations should aim for indoors, in addition to being unnecessary, print of indoor cannabis production,” certified organic production. Our experi- imposes a rather large climate impact. An Energy Policy 46 (2012) 58-57) ence with tobacco shows that some of the astonishing amount of water and energy are In British Columbia, we have protected carcinogenic impacts of cigarettes were re- required to grow cannabis indoors. Statistics agricultural areas for decades within the lated to artificial fertilizers and pesticides, from those areas where cannabis has been Agricultural Land Reserve. In my riding made deadlier through burning and inhala- legalized in the United States should give us on southern Vancouver Island, this pre- tion within smoke. An organic cannabis Green Party Leader Elizabeth May pause as we organize a massive energy-inten- cious agricultural land is up for grabs for product will be preferable from health and Growing cannabis sive indoors cannabis industry. In Colorado, indoor cannabis operations. Constructed environmental viewpoints. Our regulations Denver’s marijuana facilities consume two per in bunkers, they have no relationship to should contemplate our best outcomes and cent of the state’s electricity. In California, it is agriculture. The soil is being covered, food avoid creating another and growing source s the first federal party in Canada to three per cent. Oregon’s utility has compared is not being grown, and vast areas are off of greenhouse gas emissions. Aadvocate for an end to the futile and the energy required to grow four plants to that limits behind barbed wire. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May rep- counter-productive prohibition policy to- required to run our most energy-hungry appli- While growing cannabis as a more tra- resents Saanich-Gulf Islands, B.C. wards cannabis, the Green Party of Canada ance—not one refrigerator, but 29 refrigerators. ditional outdoor crop has some challenges, The Hill Times

Plant Production and Marketing, Sales & Financing a Cannabis Facility Management Drug Development Enterprise in Canada

COMING SOON Retail Customer Care Training Cultivation Technician Certificate 24 MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018 | THE HILL TIMES Cannabis Policy Briefing

among orders of government, and with provinces—for a 75-25 split— financial tools that work. specifically to support municipali- Co-ordination matters because ties. This has launched an impor- Municipalities key local implementation hinges on tant conversation among orders of the regulatory frameworks that government toward achieving that federal and provincial govern- fair municipal share. ments develop. To move forward The federal commitment to le- to safe, effective locally, municipalities need to galize cannabis has always carried know what’s coming—and we a federal responsibility to ensure have frontline expertise to share. all orders of government have the And while co-ordination has been tools they need to follow through. uneven, we see it improving, and So if cannabis revenues start cannabis legalization we need that to continue. lower than hoped, or if local costs Financial tools matter be- exceed FCM’s projections, Ottawa Canadians are asking tough ques- But keeping Canadians safe and cause implementing this federal will need to find other ways to en- With the right tools, tions: Will marijuana be sold next well-served will involve as many government commitment will sure those costs are covered. But to my child’s school? How will we as 17 municipal departments— impose major new costs on mu- the great advantage of revenue- local governments will keep drug-impaired drivers off from business licensing to transit nicipalities. To keep Canadians sharing is the planning stability it be ready to answer the the road? How will we dissuade to human resources. protected—at launch and for the offers all orders of government. my teenager from smoking pot? Municipalities will be amend- long term—those costs need to We all know that cannabis tough questions and These are the kinds of questions ing, administering and enforc- be sustainable. So FCM has been legalization requires a strong reassure Canadians that thousands of municipal lead- ing zoning and density bylaws, working on the math, based on federal-provincial-territorial ers are working hard to answer. along with rules around smoking evolving information from prov- municipal partnership. Over the that they’ll be safe and Legalizing and regulating restrictions, public nuisance, and inces and consultations with our last couple of years, we have seen well-served in a world cannabis across Canada is a safety concerns related to build- members nationwide. that partnership grow stronger major challenge for all orders of ing codes. We may share respon- Our best projections pin on infrastructure and affordable of legal cannabis. government. As president of the sibility with other governments those local costs at $3-million housing. From FCM’s perspective, Federation of Canadian Munici- for rules around minimum age of to $4.75-million annually per what we have now is an opportu- palities (FCM), I can tell you that purchase, possession limits, pub- 500,000 residents. This is money nity to get this partnership right local governments are well into lic consumption, retail location, municipalities don’t have and by building in the right financial this process. After all, our cities and home cultivation. We will cannot raise on their own. That’s tools from Day 1. and communities are where can- play varying roles in promoting why FCM has proposed flowing With the right tools, local gov- nabis will be produced, sold and public health through education one-third of cannabis excise tax ernments will be ready to answer consumed. And the proposed leg- and prevention. revenues to local governments. the tough questions and reassure islation places them on the front To help municipalities get ready, Based on the Parliamentary Canadians that they’ll be safe lines of keeping Canadians safe FCM published a Cannabis Le- Budget Office’s cannabis revenue and well-served in a world of and well-served. galization Primer last August, and projections, one-third will go a legal cannabis. For instance, municipalities are we’re in the final stages of develop- long way toward making those lo- Jenny Gerbasi is deputy mayor Jenny Gerbasi preparing the bulk of Canada’s ing a comprehensive guide. Imple- cal enforcement and operational of Winnipeg and president of the Municipalities police forces to enforce new menting this federal commitment is costs sustainable. Federation of Canadian Munici- cannabis rules. As a top priority, a mammoth undertaking, and local Initially, the federal govern- palities, the national voice of mu- protecting people from impaired governments are capable partners ment had proposed a 50/50 revenue nicipal government, with nearly INNIPEG—With cannabis drivers means rolling out roadside in getting it done. And we’ve al- split with provinces. So we were 2,000 members representing 90 Wset to become legal for testing programs, training officers ways said that getting it done right encouraged to see Ottawa respond per cent of Canadians. recreational use by next summer, on new equipment and protocols. requires two things: co-ordination to FCM by sharing 25 more points The Hill Times

This marks a departure from the current medical model, which has Cannabis legalization in Canada: the case been dominated by well-funded, large-scale producers. Diversity in this market would be bolstered for pardons and preferential licensing by creating a special class of licence for people previously convicted of cannabis crimes rime Minister Justin Trudeau’s and almost 6,000 youth were found In the case of pardons, we and those from neighbourhoods The Opium Act of 1908, Pproposed date for legalizing the guilty. So, in less than half the should follow the example targeted by our war on drugs. Los and many that followed, recreational use of cannabis is fast time our prime minister has held provided in Bill C-66, where the Angeles took this approach as a approaching and the Senate is de- office, more than 30,000 Canadians government erased the records of way to introduce equity into Cali- had a considerable bating Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act. were branded with the marker of a LGBTQ Canadians convicted of fornia’s new recreational market. Given the social harms associated criminal record for a “crime” com- activities that are no longer illegal. Canadians need to remem- negative impact on with drug prohibition, legalization mitted by a significant proportion These pardons should be auto- ber that our country stood at the the very groups that cannot come soon enough. We also of the Canadian public, including matically granted by the federal vanguard of international drug law need to go further and right past Justin Trudeau when he sat as MP. government and should extend to with its adoption of the Opium Act their proponents so wrongs by pardoning those con- Unfortunately, these 30,000 any subsequent charges stemming of 1908. This law, and many that often purported to victed of minor cannabis offences people joined a lengthy list of from an original cannabis related followed, had a considerable nega- and by giving preference to those Canadians who, like them, face charge (failure to comply with the tive impact on the very groups that help. At a time when most targeted by Canada’s war on difficulties travelling overseas, conditions of a probation order, their proponents so often purport- Canada once again drugs when we issue cultivation volunteering at their local schools for example). The latter are impor- ed to help. At a time when Canada and distribution licences. and finding meaningful employ- tant as they serve to unnecessarily once again stands at the forefront stands at the forefront Although unrecognized by ment due to minor cannabis of- drag individuals further into the of international drug law, we many, the policing of cannabis and fences. We are legalizing the drug criminal justice system. should set an example to the world of international drug other drugs has been a priority in part for this very reason; we The federal government also by providing redress for the harms law, we should set an for Canadian law enforcement acknowledge the harms caused by recently announced a plan to we now know we have inflicted. agencies. According to Statistics its current illegality. As we move spur a “diverse and competitive” Akwasi Owusu-Bempah is example to the world by Canada, Canadian police agencies towards legalization we should industry by establishing differ- an assistant sociology professor providing redress for recorded approximately 109,000 not forget those who have already ent tiers of licences required for at the University of Toronto. offences under the Controlled been affected. Former Toronto participation in the legal market. The Hill Times the harms we now know Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) police chief and current Liberal in 2013, the most recent year for drug czar, Bill Blair, has himself we have inflicted. which comprehensive data are pointed out these people are more readily available. Of these, about likely to be drawn from the young, 73,000 were cannabis-related cases impoverished, and otherwise mar- and 59,000 were for possession. ginalized—the very people that we While many of these cases were should be trying to better incorpo- cleared through police discretion rate into our society, not working (i.e. not taken to court), the number to exclude from it. of people tried for simple pos- So how can we rectify this? session was significant. Between By pardoning the convicted and 2008 and 2009 and 2011 and 2012, providing opportunities for those cannabis possession accounted for personally affected by the war The federal government also recently announced a plan to spur a ‘diverse and competitive’ industry by establishing different tiers of licences required for Akwasi Owusu-Bempah approximately 59,000 adult and on drugs, as well as members of 14,000 youth cases completed in their communities, to benefit from participation in the legal market, writes Akwasi Owusu-Bempah. The Hill Times Pardons & Licensing our courts. Of these, 25,000 adults a burgeoning industry. file photograph THE HILL TIMES | MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018 25 Policy BriefingCannabis

Over generations, marijuana to the effects of THC (delta-9-tet- of “lower-risk cannabis use.” As vocabulary and cultural icons rahydrocannabinol) a dopamine youth describe differences be- have metamorphosised from the triggering chemical in cannabis. tween sativa and indica plants, MJ-101: time ganja-smoking Bob Marley reg- Consider the developing brain with formulaic description of gae tunes and Peter Tosh singing being a fresh egg and the mature their THC to CBD (cannabidiol) “legalize it.” Snoop Dogg now brain boiled. You may find yourself ratios while claiming they modu- iconizes marijuana through music, thinking, “Hey we smoked pot and late their cognitive states with for ‘higher’ smoke-imagery and a large social turned out just fine,” however, the high THC and wind down with media presence with 120 million difference lies in the THC content CBD; clinicians may be struck by views of his song Smoke Weed which has increased from about their own knowledge void. Every Day (SWED), a new phrase three per cent a few decades ago Every health professional, knowledge in urban youth lexicon. Marijuana to nearly 30 per cent in some con- teacher, first responder, parent, is now at home on Instagram and temporary hybrids. Evidence also and child should have evidence- fed with Bitcoins as times change. suggests a drop in IQ with heavy based cannabis literacy deliv- Today, Canadian youth rank use. Higher grade, but lower IQ. ered through a medium they about cannabis top of the global cannabis-use Health Canada and other understand and engage with. The league, while the 2017 Maclean’s agencies are committed to raising ‘green-rush’ has invested mil- University Marijuana Ranking awareness, however, there remains a lions of dollars in sophisticated highlights the influence of weed considerable knowledge gap regard- marketing and development of What is ideal an age for in academic institutions. The ing current scientific evidence about new cannabis professions with cannabis literacy to start Canadian cannabis survey (2017) risks and benefits of cannabis use. credible-looking and persuasive observed 55 per cent found posi- The challenge faced by policy- knowledge positioning. and when should it stop, tive effects of cannabis on mental makers, health professionals, and What is ideal an age for can- health (mood, anxiety, sleep and health educators is how to bridge nabis literacy to start and when if ever? Start young and creativity). However, motivation, this knowledge chasm. While the should it stop, if ever? I propose don’t stop. Many youth memory and decision-making frequency and pattern of use has start young and don’t stop. Many were also problematic (60 per been established, we know less youth may face challenges with may face challenges cent). Twice as many 16-24 year about cannabis literacy in youth. I employment screening, insurance Oyedeji Ayonrinde with employment olds (41-45 per cent) reported have heard young people suggest and professional regulatory bodies Cannabis Literacy cannabis use in the past year than cannabis helps grow brain cells e.g. Armed Forces, police, pub- screening, insurance 25year-olds and above (18 per and can enhance productivity in lic transport drivers, health and and professional cent). Of importance, 16 per cent school. Some also felt it improved construction, to mention a few. INGSTON, ONT.—While many said they used weed before or focusing while driving. When What does a positive cannabis test regulatory bodies e.g. Kpsychoactive substances like during school. In Ontario, about asked their sources, friends, the in- mean, without a criminal record? caffeine, cocaine, tobacco and two per cent of Grade 7 students ternet, and social media were cited. Higher knowledge before get- Armed Forces, police, heroin have plant origins, none report cannabis use in the last In developing high cannabis liter- ting high. public transport has proven a contemporary social year with rapid acceleration to acy in young people, what messages MJ: 101—frequent or daily use phenomenon as marijuana—a about 37 per cent by Grade 12. should they receive and through of cannabis from a young age is drivers, health and plant with both medicinal and Does this actually matter? The what media? Who is best suited to strongly discouraged below 21 years, construction, to recreational potential. Very few simple answer is yes. There is credibly communicate this? particularly if there is a history companies or indeed countries can robust evidence that frequent Many clinicians are probably of psychosis if the THC content is mention a few. What boast the iconic brand recognition or daily use of high potency not aware of the most current greater than your age, you’re taking of the cannabis leaf; certainly, none cannabis-products from a young cannabis evidence and may also greater risk with your mental health. does a positive cannabis of the aforementioned plants. Sci- age significantly increases the have their individual biases. The Dr. Oyedeji (Deji) Ayonrinde is test mean, without a ence, industry, agriculture, legisla- risk of developing psychosis and advent of medical marijuana and an associate professor in the tion, education and policy have schizophrenia. The developing imminent legalization poses a department of psychiatry at criminal record? now converged as the ‘green rush’ brain (including that of the unborn challenge to health profession- Queen’s University. collides with grey cells. child) is particularly vulnerable als as they confront a new ethos The Hill Times Government falling behind on cannabis public education, say critics lower,” he said at the committee. da (MADD), said the key to reach- Health Canada is collaborating Continued from page 20 Mr. Davies said he couldn’t ing youth is not being preachy. The with the provinces and territories age groups 12 to 17, 18 to 25, recall if the American experts organization has educated youth to identify the best way to get it and over 26. had give a timeline for when the about the effects of drinking and the information into schools, said “The increases were 17 per campaigns should be released to driving for a number of years, but Ms. Jarbeau. She said the groups cent to 63 per cent higher, while the public, but both he and Ms. more recently turned to the effects have been meeting monthly to national averages for the same Gladu said they would expect it of driving and drug impairment. discuss public education efforts. group remained the same or soon because of the deadline. Youth are very sensitive to hy- “You can’t start soon pocrisy and exaggerated claims, Current Public Safety enough,” he said. “It … should said Mr. Davies, so having accu- have happened in the fall of last rate information is important. ads running until March year, but certainly I should be “It needs to be focused on 2018 seeing it by now.” usage, helping people under- Jean-Philippe Levert, a Youth were not consulted stand brain development, help- spokesperson for Public Safety, during the House Health Com- ing people understand what the said the current campaign will mittee’s study of the bill, said Mr. impacts of what cannabis use are, run from November 2017 until Davies, which he found concern- and what they’re not,” he said. March 2018, but the initiative ing because of the focus on usage Ms. Gladu said the campaign will continue for five years. The rates in the age group. He would should also be implemented in primary target for this year’s ad- have liked to ask them about what schools, tailored to meet provin- vertising are those aged 16-24. they thought of legalization, or cial and municipal laws. Schools “Young people are the least ex- NDP MP and health critic Don how to best reach them during an could also talk about the unin- perienced when it comes to driving Davies said tone, as well as educational campaign, he said. Mr. tended consequences of marijuana and drug use, and they continue to accurate information, are important Cannabis enthusiasts take part in Davies moved a motion to have use, she said, such as potentially be the largest group of drivers who when it comes to the cannabis 4/20 in Parliament Hill, an annual two days of hearings to include being barred from the U.S., where die in crashes and later test posi- public education campaign. The Hill day in celebration of the plant. youth, but it was voted down. marijuana is illegal federally. tive for alcohol or drugs,” he said in Times photograph by Andrew Meade “What I think about cannabis “They’re not legalizing it The government plans to legalize an emailed statement. implement and the easier one for cannabis on July 1, 2018, but use and what a 16-year-old thinks at the federal level, we’ve just He also noted Public Safety is about cannabis use are probably seen the [U.S. Justice Depart- the public to understand. critics are concerned the spring partnering with MADD and the “There’s nothing unique about 2018 implementation date for the quite different,” he said. ment] take a reverse opinion Canadian Association of Chiefs from the Obama administration [it], you can’t drive high now, never national marijuana public education of Police, among others, for the mind legalization,” he said. “That’s advertising campaign will not be Don’t come off as preachy: on whether or not they’re going impaired driving campaigns. to look the other way for state not where the bulk of the education- enough time to educate the public While Mr. Davies supports al campaign needs to be focused on.” of the risks. The Hill Times file MADD legalization,” she said. “Those are the impaired driving campaign, Andrew Murie, CEO of Moth- [email protected] photograph the kinds of things I think young he said it was the easier one to ers Against Drunk Driving Cana- people need to know.” The Hill Times