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Tag: Canada

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Canadian Medical Cannabis Patients Report Sustained Improvements In Their Health

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Archives, Science.

Cannabis is medicine. That may seem like an obvious fact to cannabis supporters, however, cannabis opponents still try very hard to downplay the wellness benefits that the cannabis plant can provide. In many cases, cannabis opponents still cling to the false claim that cannabis provides zero medical benefits.

Unfortunately for cannabis opponents, and fortunately for suffering patients, the cannabis plant does possess tremendous wellness benefits and can be used to successfully treat a number of conditions.

A team of researchers in Canada recently published longitudinal data involving survey responses from registered medical cannabis patients in Canada. The participating patients reported sustained improvements in specific components of their overall health. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Montreal, Canada: Canadian patients authorized to use medical cannabis products report sustained improvements in their health-related quality of life, according to longitudinal data published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

A team of investigators affiliated with McGill University in Montreal assessed the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis products in a cohort of 2,991 patients. Subjects in the study consumed cannabis flower, extracts, or other related products for one year.

Consistent with other studies, researchers reported: “All patient-reported outcomes showed a statistically significant improvement at 3 months, which was maintained or further improved (for pain interference, tiredness, and well-being) over the remainder of the 12-month follow-up. Results also revealed clinically significant improvements in pain interference and tiredness, anxiety, and well-being from baseline.” Few patients reported experiencing any serious adverse events as a result of their cannabis intake.

Authors concluded, “MC [medical cannabis] directed by physicians appears to be safe and effective within 3 months of initiation for a variety of medical indications.”

Data published late last week in the journal JAMA Network Open reported that nearly one in four pain patients residing in states where medical cannabis access is legal self-identify as marijuana consumers.

Full text of the study, “The Quebec Cannabis Registry: Investigating the safety and effectiveness of medical cannabis,” appears inCannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

Canada

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Cannabis Compounds Effective At Mitigating Chronic Pain And Improving Sleep According To New Study

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Archives, Science.

Neuropathic pain is a major health condition affecting a significant percentage of the global population. Neuropathic pain involves a patient’s nervous system being damaged or not working correctly due to various reasons.

Common causes of neuropathic pain include, but are not limited to, nerve pressure or nerve damage after surgery or trauma, infections, cancer, extreme alcohol use, and conditions such as multiple sclerosis and diabetes.

A common condition that accompanies chronic neuropathic pain is an inability to gain proper sleep. Neuropathic pain patients often report difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep, largely due to the pain that they are experiencing.

A team of researchers in Canada recently examined randomized controlled trial data involving neuropathic pain, sleep, and medical cannabis use and the results of their research was very insightful. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Toronto, Canada: Cannabis compounds are effective at mitigating chronic neuropathic pain and improving sleep, according to a review of randomized controlled trial data published in the journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine.

A team of Canadian researchers evaluated results from nine trials that compared synthetic and natural cannabinoids to placebo in patients suffering from neuropathic pain syndromes.

They reported: “Meta-analysis of data from six studies showed that cannabinoids were associated with a significant improvement in sleep quality. Meta-analysis of data from eight studies showed a significant reduction in daily pain scores in the cannabinoid group.”

Authors concluded: “Cannabinoids have a role in treating chronic neuropathic pain as evidenced by significant improvements in sleep quality, pain intensity, and PGIC [Patients’ Global Impression of Change scale]. More research is needed to comprehensively evaluate the impact of cannabinoids on sleep health and analgesic efficacy.”

Survey data consistently reports that patients who use cannabis products typically do so to mitigate chronic pain and improve sleep. Among patients in US states where medical cannabis access is permitted, over 60 percent are qualified to use it to treat pain.

Full text of the study, “Evaluating the impact of cannabinoids on sleep health and pain in patients with chronic neuropathic pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials,” appears in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine. Additional information on cannabis and chronic pain is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids.

Canada

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Health Canada Releases 2022 Canadian Cannabis Survey

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Archives, Policy.

Canada was not the first country to pass a nationwide cannabis adult-use legalization measure, however, it was the first G-7 nation to do so, and remains the only country on earth where anyone of legal age can legally purchase cannabis regardless of residence status.

The only other two countries that have passed national legalization measures are Uruguay and Malta. Uruguay is the only country to pass such a measure prior to Canada doing so, yet, legal sales are only permitted to residents. Malta does not currently have a regulated industry.

With all of that in mind, Canada provides the best legalization model for industry research purposes, particularly regarding how a regulated industry affects usage rates in society. Canada’s annual survey results are out, with more information about it below via a government news release:

OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 16, 2022 /CNW/ – The Government of Canada collects data to better understand how Canadians view and use cannabis. Through this data, we can better monitor Canada’s national framework for controlling the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis under the Cannabis Act.

Today, Health Canada published the results of the 2022 Canadian Cannabis Survey. Health Canada has conducted the Canadian Cannabis Survey every year since 2017. The 2022 survey is the sixth cycle of the survey, and data were collected from April to June 2022.

Key findings from the 2022 Canadian Cannabis Survey include:

  • Past 12-month cannabis use among youth aged 16-19 has returned to pre-legalization levels in 2021 and 2022, after increasing between 2018 and 2020.

  • Overall, proportions of those reporting daily or almost daily cannabis use among those who use cannabis (an indicator of problematic or high-risk cannabis use behaviour) have been stable since 2018, including among youth aged 16-19.

  • The percentage of those classified at ‘high-risk’ of developing problems from their cannabis use has remained stable since 2018.

  • The proportion of respondents smoking cannabis have continued to decline since 2018 while vapourizing cannabis using a vape pen has increased since 2021.

  • Smoking is still the most common method of consuming cannabis, followed by eating and vapourizing with a vape pen or e-cigarette.

  • A greater proportion of respondents reported a legal source as their usual source of cannabis compared to 2021, with legal storefronts being the most common source since 2019. A smaller proportion reported illegal storefronts and illegal online sources in 2022 compared to 2019.

  • Among those who used cannabis, driving after recent use decreased between 2018 and 2021 and remained unchanged in 2022.

  • More than a quarter of those who used cannabis for medical purposes said they did so with a document from a healthcare professional, an increase since 2021.

Results of the Canadian Cannabis Survey will be used to inform policy and program development, and help target public education and awareness activities. The data from the survey will also help inform the legislative review of the Cannabis Act, which is being led by an independent expert panel.

This important survey complements Health Canada’s other national substance use surveys, including the Canadian Alcohol and Drugs Survey and the Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey.

Quick Facts

  • The 2022 CCS results are based on online responses from approximately 10,000 respondents aged 16 years of age and older from each province and territory.
  • Data were collected across five themes:
    • knowledge, attitudes and behaviours;
    • cannabis use and products used;
    • sources of cannabis and purchasing patterns;
    • driving and cannabis use; and
    • cannabis for medical purposes.
  • The 2022 survey collected new data on the following topics:
    • accidental consumption of cannabis products by individuals and pets in the household (to note: while the percentage people reporting accidental consumption in their home is small (1%), this would still result in a large number of events throughout the population);
    • exposure to advertisements or promotions of cannabis; and,
    • changes in cannabis use over the past 12 months in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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Associated Links

SOURCE Health Canada

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Study Finds Medical Cannabis Reform In Canada Associated With Reduced Alcohol Sales

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Archives, Policy.

A study in 2015 found that cannabis is 114 times safer than alcohol. That, of course, highlights some of the irony behind cannabis still being illegal in many parts of the world, even for medical use, while alcohol is legal in nearly all (if not all) of those same countries.

This is not to say that alcohol should be prohibited. Much like cannabis prohibition, alcohol prohibition does not work and results in more harm than good. Just as people can and should be able to consume cannabis responsibly, so too should they be able to do so with alcohol.

With that being said, cannabis is exponentially safer compared to alcohol, so any reduction in alcohol use is a good thing overall for society from a public health standpoint. According to a recent study in Canada, medical cannabis reform is associated with reduced alcohol sales. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Ontario, Canada: The adoption of medical cannabis access in Canada was associated with reductions in alcohol sales, according to data published in the journal Health Policy.

A Canadian researcher evaluated the relationship between medical cannabis legalization and retail sales of alcohol in various regions of the country over an eight-year period.

The author determined: “This study found a significant negative association between legal medical cannabis sales and liquor store alcohol sales: each cannabis sales dollar was associated with an average alcohol sales reduction of between $0.74 and $0.84. The negative association was robust with respect to several alternative modeling choices.”

He concluded, “From a public health perspective, the results likewise imply that reductions in alcohol-related health impacts might partly offset the increased cannabis-related health impacts that legalization might bring.”

A 2017 analysis of US beverage sales identified a similar decline in alcohol sales following the adoption of statewide medical cannabis legalization laws, as did a 2021 assessment of Youth Risk Behavioral Survey data. By contrast, a more recent study evaluating the impact of adult-use legalization laws in the United States reported an association with increased alcohol use those age 21 and older.

Full text of the study, “Relationship between sales of legal cannabis and alcohol in Canada,” appears in Health Policy.

Canada

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Saskatchewan Government Files First Nations Cannabis Authority Legislation

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Archives, Business, Policy.

The emerging cannabis industry has the potential to transform communities and boost opportunities for those that live where cannabis commerce is permitted. A report from earlier this year by Deloitte highlighted just how much the legal cannabis industry has helped communities in Canada.

One of the major takeaways from the analysis is that the legal cannabis industry in Canada had created roughly 151,000 jobs as of the report’s publishing. In addition to generating new jobs across the country, the emerging legal cannabis industry was responsible for generating over $15 billion since legal adult-use sales launched in late 2018.

The overall economic boost from Canada’s legalized industry is substantial. Deloitte estimated that the legal cannabis industry in Canada had contributed over $43.5 billion to the nation’s GDP since the start of legalization as of February. Cannabis companies have directly invested roughly $4.4 billion into Canada’s economy, with the remaining boost to GDP coming from “indirect” economic contributions, and “induced” contributions according to Deloitte.

First Nations in Canada are progressively getting more involved in the emerging cannabis industry, and in Saskatchewan specifically, lawmakers are pushing for First Nations to be able to self-govern and self-regulate the cannabis industry on-reserve. Below is more information about it via a news release form the government of Saskatchewan:

Today, the Government of Saskatchewan introduced two pieces of legislation that lay the groundwork for increased First Nations self-governance.

The Summary Offences Procedure Amendment Act, 2022 will provide a legal framework that First Nations communities can use to enforce laws and bylaws on reserve.

“The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to take this important step as part of our ongoing work with the Muskoday and Whitecap Dakota First Nations,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre said. “These amendments will allow these and other First Nations communities in the future to use the more simplified summary offences procedure, instead of the long-form process under the federal Criminal Code, to issue tickets and fines such as those issued for traffic violations and other provincial offences.”

These amendments follow a Memorandum of Understanding that was signed by the Government of Saskatchewan, Muskoday First Nation and Whitecap Dakota First Nation on October 18, 2019, to address longstanding issues around the enforcement of First Nations’ laws.

“First Nations assert their jurisdiction and maintain community safety by creating laws under the Indian Act, land codes, and other federal legislation but there have been difficulties in enforcing these laws in the courts,” Chief of Whitecap Dakota First Nation Darcy Bear said. “Through our work with the provincial government, the amendments to SOPA will give us access to prosecution and enforcement tools that will give force to our laws in areas such as environmental protection and community safety; and strengthen the place of our laws alongside federal and provincial law.”

The Cannabis Control (Saskatchewan) Amendment Act, 2022 establishes the provincial legal framework for First Nations to license and regulate the distribution and retailing of cannabis on-reserve.

“Our government supports First Nations exercising their authority over on-reserve distribution and retailing of cannabis through a legal framework with SLGA,” Minister Responsible for SLGA Lori Carr said. “This change further fosters reconciliation by ensuring First Nation-owned businesses are able to fully participate in the economic opportunities presented by the retail cannabis industry.”

The proposed amendments provide First Nations the opportunity to create their own First Nations regulatory framework consistent with federal and provincial legislation to establish a local cannabis authority. Once established, stores regulated by First Nations will have access to federally regulated cannabis products.

These amendments will also require all Saskatchewan cannabis retailers to only ask for proof of age when a purchaser appears to be under the age of 25. Currently, retailers are required to ask for proof of age from all purchasers.

Canada

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Canada Increases Cannabis Beverage Possession Limit

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Archives, Policy, Science.

The cannabis beverage sector of the emerging international cannabis industry has been very interesting to follow. It’s often the subject of a great deal of public relations efforts it seems, with industry leaders often touting it as ‘the next great sector’ that entrepreneurs, investors, and consumers should watch for.

Cannabis-infused beverages have certainly risen in popularity in recent years among patients and consumers, with that popularity being paralleled by a dramatic increase in selection. Drinkable forms of cannabis are a great consumption method for various reasons, and unlike many cannabis products, beverages almost always seem to come in packaging that is easy to recycle.

Canada is home to the largest nationwide, legal adult-use cannabis industry and several cannabis-infused beverage products are available across the nation. The Canadian government recently announced changes to cannabis beverage possession limits, in addition to changes to cannabis testing and research. Below is more information about it via a government news release from Health Canada:

Today, Health Canada announced that amendments to the Cannabis Act and its regulations concerning cannabis research and testing, and cannabis beverages have been approved and are now in force as of December 2, 2022. A copy of the final regulations, as well as the Regulatory Impact and Analysis Statement is expected to be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, on December 21, 2022.

These amendments follow extensive engagement with stakeholders, universities, researchers, health authorities, cannabis industry associations, cannabis licence holders, provinces, territories and the public. They aim to facilitate research and testing, and also amend the public possession limit for cannabis beverages to bring them in line with other cannabis products.

Notably, these amendments:

  • Increase the public possession limit for cannabis beverages to a level that is similar to other forms of cannabis, such as solid edible cannabis products (i.e. gummies or chocolate). Adults in Canada are now able to possess up to 17.1 litres (equal to 48 cans of 355 ml each) of cannabis beverages in public for non-medical purposes, which is up from approximately 2.1 litres (equal to five cans of 355 ml each) under the previous rules. Existing controls that mitigate the risks of overconsumption and accidental consumption, such as child-resistant packaging and strict limits on the amount of THC per container, remain in place;
  • Change how Health Canada regulates non-therapeutic cannabis research with human participants, helping make the process of conducting this research easier, while still maintaining appropriate public health and safety controls;
  • Allow analytical testing licence holders and federal and provincial government laboratories to produce, distribute and sell reference standards and test kits, to increase access to cannabis testing materials and thereby support access to a quality-controlled supply of cannabis; and
  • Broaden the educational qualifications for the Head of Laboratory, a position that is required for an analytical testing licence and is responsible for all cannabis testing activities that occur at the licensed site.

Transition periods are provided to reduce potential impacts on existing research licence holders conducting research with human participants, and on processing licence holders who produce cannabis beverages. The Cannabis Act serves as a flexible legislative framework that adapts and responds to the needs of Canadians.

Health Canada will continue to engage with stakeholders and pursue initiatives to address ongoing and emerging public health and safety issues to improve the cannabis framework so that it meets the needs of Canadians while continuing to displace the illicit market.

Quick Facts

  • The Cannabis Act (the Act) came into force on October 17, 2018. With the Act, the Government of Canada legalized and strictly regulated the production, distribution, sale, import and export, and possession of cannabis.
  • The Minister of Health and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions launched the legislative review of the Cannabis Act on September 22, 2022. The review is being conducted by a five-member independent, expert panel, who will report their final conclusions and advice to the Ministers by Spring 2024.
  • Health Canada’s Forward Regulatory Plan provides information on regulatory initiatives that Health Canada aims to propose or finalize in the next two years, including those pertaining to the cannabis framework.

Associated Links

Contacts

Guillaume Bertrand
Senior Communications Advisor and Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Health
613-957-0200

Media Relations
Health Canada
613-957-2983
media@hc-sc.gc.ca

Public Inquiries:
613-957-2991
1-866-225-0709

Canada

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Cannabis Benefits Headache Patients According To New Canadian Study

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Archives, Science.

Headaches are one of the most common health conditions that people suffer from around the globe, with the severity and frequency of headaches varying from person to person. For some people, headaches are rare and when they do occur they go away fairly quickly after a short amount of time, often without the assistance of medication.

However, for many other sufferers, headaches can be frequent, severe, and over-the-counter medications are not enough to help reduce the pain and suffering. For folks in the latter group, a recent study out of Canada provides some hope, with researchers finding that headache patients frequently report benefits from using cannabis. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Alberta, Canada: Patients suffering from headache disorders frequently experience relief from the use of cannabis, according to survey data published in the Canadian Journal of Neurology.

Researchers surveyed 200 patients associated with a tertiary headache clinic in Calgary regarding their use of cannabis products. (Cannabis is legal in Canada for both medical and adult use.)

Over one-third of respondents (34 percent) acknowledged currently engaging in the use of cannabis. Of these, 60 percent perceived cannabis to be effective at reducing the severity of their headaches, while 29 percent said it mitigated headache frequency. Subjects most frequently reported consuming liquid cannabis preparations or inhaling cannabis flowers.

“The findings of this survey document patient’s perceived benefit of cannabinoids in the management of headache,” authors reported. “The results of this exploratory survey will aid neurologists and headache specialists in understanding the current trends in use of cannabis products in more severely affected headache patients and inform treatment parameters when designing controlled studies of cannabis in this setting.”

Numerous other surveys similarly report that those suffering from migraines often turn to cannabis for symptomatic relief, and many patients say that it is more effective than prescription medications. A recent literature review of 12 previously published studies involving 1,980 participants concluded that cannabis preparations likely provide for the prophylactic and abortive treatment of migraines.

Full text of the study, “Cannabinoid use in a tertiary headache clinic: A cross-sectional survey,” appears in the Canadian Journal of Neurology. Additional information on cannabis and migraine is available from NORML.

 

Canada

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Who Is Conducting The Legislative Review Of Canada’s Cannabis Act?

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Archives, Policy.

Canada is one of only three countries on earth where cannabis is legal nationwide for adult use. The only other two countries are Uruguay and Malta. Uruguay initially passed its legalization measure back in 2013, making it the first country to ever pass a national adult-use legalization measure. Malta passed its law, which is much more limited compared to its legalization peers, late last year.

Unlike Uruguay and Malta, Canada allows legal sales to people of legal age regardless of their residence status. Uruguay limits legal sales to residents only, and Malta has yet to issue any adult-use license of any kind, and as a result, adult-use sales are still prohibited in Malta.

As part of Canada’s legalization policy, a four year review is being conducted to determine what lessons can be learned from what is often described as ‘the biggest cannabis policy and industry experiment on planet earth.’ Canada’s government recently announced who will be conducting the legislative review. Below is more information about it via a news release from the Government of Canada:

Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced the members of the Expert Panel on the legislative review of the Cannabis Act. 

The Panel will provide independent, expert advice to both ministers on progress made towards achieving the Act’s objectives and help identify potential areas for improving the functioning of the legislation.

The ministers have taken a number of factors, such as geography, expertise, and demographic representation, into consideration when making their selection. They have carefully selected individuals who represent Canada’s diversity, and collectively hold significant public sector experience, expertise in public health and justice, and experience engaging with Indigenous communities and organizations.

The Expert Panel, chaired by Morris Rosenberg, will lead a credible and inclusive review with the following members:

  • Dr. Oyedeji Ayonrinde
  • Dr. Patricia J. Conrod
  • Lynda L. Levesque
  • Dr. Peter Selby

The ministers have mandated the Expert Panel to engage with the public, governments, Indigenous peoples, youth, marginalized and racialized communities, cannabis industry representatives, and people who access cannabis for medical purposes, to gather their perspectives on the implementation and administration of the Cannabis Act. The independent Expert Panel is also expected to meet  and consult with experts in relevant fields, including, but not limited to, public health, substance use, criminal justice, law enforcement, Indigenous governance and rights and health care.

To help inform the Panel’s work, Health Canada has extended their online engagement process for Indigenous peoples. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples are invited to read and provide feedback on the Summary from Engagement with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples: The Cannabis Act and its Impacts, which is open until January 15, 2023.

Quotes

“The Expert Panel will provide us with an independent, inclusive and evidence-informed review of the Cannabis Act and its economic, social, and environmental impacts, as well as the progress that’s been made displacing the illicit cannabis market. We welcome the Expert Panel members and look forward to reviewing their findings to help address the ongoing and emerging needs of Canadians while protecting their health and safety.”

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Health

“The Cannabis Act has been instrumental in our efforts to protect youth from accessing cannabis, displacing the illegal market, and providing adult consumers with access to a safe supply of cannabis, but there’s more work to do. We congratulate the new members of the Expert Panel, and look forward to their work assessing our progress in meeting the goals of the Act and guiding our next steps.”

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health 

“It’s my great pleasure to begin working with the members of the Expert Panel. Each member brings a wealth of experience and knowledge, which will be essential as we conduct a thorough, independent review of the Cannabis Act.”

Morris Rosenberg
Chair of the Expert Panel

Quick facts

  • The Act requires the Minister of Health to conduct a review of the legislation, its administration, and operation three years after coming into force, and for the Minister to table a report on this review in both Houses of Parliament 18 months after the review begins.
  • The legislative review will assess the progress made towards achieving the Act’s objectives, and will evaluate:
    • Impacts on young persons;
    • Progress towards providing adults with access to strictly regulated, lower risk, legal cannabis products;
    • Progress made in deterring criminal activity and displacing the illicit cannabis market;
    • Impacts of legalization and regulation on access to cannabis for medical purposes;
    • Impacts on First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples and communities; and
    • Trends and impact of home cultivation of cannabis for non-medical purposes.
  • The Panel will broaden that focus to include:
    • Economic, social and environmental impacts of the Act;
    • Impacts on 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 socio-economic factors.
  • Budget 2022 included a commitment that Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISED) would establish a cannabis industry engagement mechanism to advance industry-government collaboration.
  • ISED is presently designing a cannabis forum that will foster industry-government dialogue, and provide a means for industry and government to examine issues relevant to the long-term competitiveness and stability of the sector.

Associated links

Contacts

Guillaume Bertrand
Senior Communications Advisor and Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Health
613-957-0200

Maja Staka
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Carolyn Bennett
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health
343-552-5568

Media Relations
Health Canada
613-957-2983
media@hc-sc.gc.ca

Public Inquiries:
613-957-2991
1-866-225-0709

 

Canada

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Canadian Chamber Of Commerce Weighs In On Legislative Review Of The Cannabis Act

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Archives, Business, Policy.

Canada was the first G-7 nation to legalize cannabis for adult-use at the national level, and the second nation to do so on earth, only behind Uruguay. Yet, unlike Uruguay, Canada allows adult-use sales to anyone of legal age regardless of their residence status.

In many ways what has gone on in Canada since the launch of legalization in 2018 has served as the greatest cannabis public policy experiment since the dawn of prohibition. Many countries around the globe have kept a close eye on legalization unfolding in Canada to gain any insight and lessons learned.

Back in September Canada’s government launched a legislative review of the Cannabis Act so that it could determine any internal lessons to be learned.

“The objective of the Cannabis Act is twofold. First, it aims to protect the health and safety of Canadians while serving as a flexible legislative framework that adapts and responds to the ongoing and emerging needs of Canadians. Second, it provides for the establishment of a diverse and competitive legal industry made up of small and large players to displace the illicit market.” the government stated at the time of the launch of the review.

“Parliamentarians recognized the need for an early assessment of the Government’s new approach to cannabis control, and included a provision requiring a review in the Act. The review will help ensure that the Act adapts to the current situation and continues to meet Canadians needs and expectations.” the government stated back in September.

Part of the legislative review process involves soliciting feedback from the general public. On the four year anniversary of legalization in Canada, Health Canada announced that it was opening an online questionnaire and encouraged all Canadians to provide comments regarding their views on how legalization was going.

“As we look to the future, the Government of Canada will continue to provide clear, consistent and evidence-based information on the health and safety effects of cannabis use to people across the country, so they can better understand the risks and make more informed choices.” Health Canada stated back in October. The public comment period has since closed (on November 21, 2022).

Canada’s Chamber of Commerce recently offered up its recommendations regarding legalization in Canada and what the government can do to help cannabis businesses battle the unregulated market in a meaningful way.

“As part of the legislative review, the NCBC is proposing several recommendations to help businesses in the legal sector remain economically competitive in the long term and continue to displace the illicit market per the tenets of the Cannabis Act.” the Chamber of Commerce stated in its submission to the government.

The Chamber’s recommendations include:

  • Minimizing harms to protect Canadians
  • Education and awareness to support informed choices
  • Progress towards establishing a responsible supply chain
  • Access to cannabis for medical purposes

Canada’s legal cannabis industry is at a crossroads of sorts, in that a favorable legislative review combined with public policy and regulatory improvements could set up the nation’s industry for robust growth and reduced uncertainty well into the future.

Conversely, a review that yields an outcome that is not favorable could result in kneejerk public policy changes. If so, that would likely ensure that the unregulated industry thrives at the expense of the regulated market in the future. People can read the Chamber’s full submission language at the previously cited link found earlier in this article.

Canada

CBD oil

Plant-Derived CBD Extracts Effectively Manage Symptoms In Autistic Patient

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Archives, Science.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is arguably the most popular cannabinoid on planet earth right now. As proof of that, consider the fact that according to Google trends ‘CBD’ was searched for by platform users more than twice as often as ‘THC’ over the course of the last year.

Of course, THC remains extremely popular both as a search topic and as a consumable. However, CBD is often seen as the more favorable cannabinoid between the two from the perspective of lawmakers and researchers, as demonstrated by the growing availability of legal CBD products around the globe and the increasing number of CBD-focused research projects being funded.

A recent study in Canada examined CBD-dominant extracts that were plant derived and their potential effects on autism as part of a case study. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Toronto, Canada: The twice-daily administration of plant-derived CBD-dominant extracts is “an effective treatment for managing symptoms associated with autism,” according to a case report published in the journal Cureus.

A team of Canadian investigators documented the treatment of a nine-year old patient diagnosed with nonverbal autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The patient received twice-daily dosing of a high-CBD/low-THC extract oil.

Researchers reported, “The child patient responded positively to the introduction of CBD oil treatment with reduced negative behaviors, better sleep, and improved communication.” No adverse side-effects were reported.

They concluded, “With the increasing clinical studies on the use of cannabidiol in treating patients with mood disorders, anxiety, chronic pain conditions, and other behavioral problems, it should be considered as a treatment option in managing symptoms related to autism.”

The findings are consistent with several other studies similarly reporting improvements in pediatric patients’ ASD symptoms following the use of cannabinoid products, particularly CBD-rich extracts. Survey data published in 2021 by the publication Autism Parenting Magazine reported that 22 percent of US caregivers or parents have provided CBD to an autistic child. Survey data from the United Kingdom recently reported that autistic adults were nearly four times as likely as controls to report having used CBD within the past year.

Full text of the study, “Cannabidiol in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder: A case study,” appears in Cureus. Additional information on cannabis and ASD is available from NORML.

Canada

cannabis flower

Canadian Study Arrives At Obvious Conclusion Regarding Cannabis Purchasing Decisions

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Archives, Business, Policy, Trending News.

I am one of those lucky people that lives in a legal cannabis jurisdiction, and in my opinion, I live in the best legal market for cannabis consumers on earth. The State of Oregon in the U.S., where I reside, passed an adult-use legalization measure in 2014, with regulated sales beginning in 2015. Since the start of regulated sales, Oregon’s unregulated market as it pertains to domestic consumers has progressively shrunk, so much so that it’s virtually non-existent these days. That has resulted in me often being asked by cannabis observers around the world how Oregon did it?

Oregon is obviously not the only place to allow regulated sales, and yet, most other legal markets struggle with competing with the unregulated market. To be sure, unregulated cannabis is still cultivated in Oregon, however, none of it stays within the state’s borders from what I can tell, which is not a coincidence in my opinion given that Oregon has the lowest prices for legal cannabis products in the nation. Presumably, unregulated Oregon cannabis goes to other jurisdictions that have yet to legalize sales, and in some cases, some of it likely even goes to other legal markets where the price of legal cannabis is exponentially greater.

Price Matters

I have read my fair share of theories and expert analysis pertaining to ‘what needs to be done to combat the unregulated cannabis market’ and while much of it provides some level of insight, at the end of the day it’s an extremely straightforward ‘riddle’ to solve. As with anything, price matters, which is what yet another recent study determined, this time out of Canada.

“Higher prices and inconvenience of legal sources were common barriers to purchasing legal cannabis,” researchers concluded. “Future research should examine how perceived barriers to legal purchasing change as legal markets mature.”

A previous study from 2018 determined that cannabis consumers are willing to pay a bit more for regulated cannabis from licensed outlets compared to the regulated market, however, there’s a limit to how much more they are willing to pay. Every dollar that gets added to the price of legal cannabis results in some percentage of customers choosing to go the unregulated route, and thus, lawmakers and industry regulators should strive to do what they can to keep prices low.

Reasonable Taxes And Regulations

When people think of the government’s involvement in the cannabis industry, they often seem to oversimply it. After all, there’s more to operating in the industry than just initial licenses and taxes. Every regulation that is added to the cannabis industry contributes to a higher final price at the point of purchase. Evolving packaging requirements, security requirements, and many other regulatory components make operating a cannabis business expensive.

Current tax provisions for cannabis businesses are such that those business have to pay considerably higher taxes compared to other legal businesses, and for those that have banking access issues, additional security expenses may also be involved, such as armored transport services. Then there’s also, of course, the taxes on purchases themselves, which also adds to the final price for legal cannabis. Collectively, all of the costs and taxes can add up.

Meanwhile, nearly all of those aspects of the legal cannabis industry that drive up prices for legal products do not exist in the unregulated market, and as such, prices for regulated products will never be equal to prices for unregulated products. The goal is to get legal prices as low as reasonably possible so that the other benefits of regulated cannabis (testing, convenience, wider selection, etc.) are worth the extra cost. If lawmakers tax legal cannabis to death and regulators fearfully implement regulations that are obviously overkill, the unregulated market will always thrive, and it doesn’t have to be that way.

Canada

court decision hearing gavel

Support For Cannabis Pardons Increases In Canada

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Archives, Policy.

Canada was the first G-7 nation to pass a nationwide adult-use cannabis legalization measure, which occurred just over four years ago. To-date Canada still serves as the only national adult-use cannabis market where anyone of legal age can purchase products beyond the low-THC variety.

Only two other nations have passed national legalization measures, with Uruguay having done so years before Canada, and Malta having done so late last year. Unlike Canada, Uruguay limits legal adult-use cannabis purchases to residents only, and Malta does not currently allow for-profit sales to anyone.

One area where Canada’s legalization model is clearly lacking is when it comes to pardons. United States President Joe Biden recently announced that he will be pardoning anyone convicted of a federal cannabis possession charge, and that has ramped up calls in Canada for the government at all levels to do the same.

Leading up to legalization in 2018 in Canada there was strong support for automatic pardons, yet the provision did not make it into the final measure. Instead, the fee for applying for a cannabis pardon was eliminated as a political compromise, although that still left all of the hoops that needed to be jumped through.

“According to a poll by The Globe and Mail/Nanos Research, however, 62 per cent of Canadians support or somewhat support the calls for a pardon for every person with a criminal record for marijuana possession.” The Globe and Mail stated back in 2017.

That level of support appears to have increased between 2017 and 2022, with new polling showing a slight uptick. Per Research Co:

More than three-in-five Canadians are in favour of a plan to pardon people convicted of simple possession of marijuana, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 64% of Canadians agree with the federal government providing expungement orders to people convicted of possession of cannabis for personal use with no intent to traffic.

It still appears to be unclear how many people in Canada have one or more related cannabis convictions on their record that would be eligible for expungement. Starting in the 1970s tens of thousands of people were convicted of possession every year in Canada. In 2015 alone it’s estimated that roughly 49,000 charges were applied by law enforcement.

Cannabis pardons and expungements need to be automatic, and that needs to be the practice everywhere, including in Canada.

The harms of prohibition are numerous, and the wrongs of the past will never be righted until every person that was ever convicted of a cannabis offense is freed from the burden of having it follow them around everywhere that they go. And the burden of making that happen falls squarely on the government, not the victim.

Canada

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