Canada to Review Cannabis Legalization
The Canadian government is launching a legislative review of the Cannabis Act, the October 2018 move that allowed adults to possess, carry and share with other adults up to 30 grams of dried cannabis.
This review was outlined in the 2018 act and will include an independent expert panel to lead a credible and inclusive evaluation. It is stated in the Cannabis Act that the review should focus particularly on the health and cannabis consumption habits of young persons, the impact of cannabis on Indigenous persons and communities, and the impact of the cultivation of cannabis plants in a housing context. The panel will broaden that focus to include:
- Economic, social and environmental impacts of the act;
- Progress toward providing adults with access to strictly regulated, lower risk, legal cannabis products;
- Progress made in deterring criminal activity and displacing the illicit cannabis market;
- Impact of legalization and regulation on access to cannabis for medical purposes; and
- Impacts on Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, and women who might be at greater risk of harm or face greater barriers to participation in the legal industry based on identity or socioeconomic factors.
For more information on the review, visit Health Canada’s announcement.
