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There are many public health benefits to cannabis legalization and regulation. See the CTAC document, dated May 24, 2016: “Cannabis Legalization in Canada: Creating a World-Class Sustainable Industry Through Inclusivity, Transparency and Evidence-Based Policy” (online: www.sustainablecannabis.ca/#papers), at Appendix B, outlining the following:
Cannabis Legalization Leads to Reduction in Incarceration Rates and May Reduce Certain Crime Rates
Cannabis Legalization Leads to Decreased Dependency on Prescription Drugs
Cannabis Legalization Does Not Lead to Increased Youth Use
Cannabis Testing Without Strict Laboratory Standards Yields Inconsistent Results
Should consumption of marijuana be allowed in any publicly-accessible spaces outside the home? Under what conditions and circumstances? A factor that the government should consider is that there are different methods for consuming marijuana that may require different regulations. Many of these will have to be determined by the appropriate jurisdiction, usually municipal. Smoking dried cannabis should fall under smoking bylaws, vaping under e-cigarette laws, and consumption of edible products potentially under similar laws as alcohol consumption. However, it is also important to make sure that these regulations for recreational usage do not impinge on the consumption and use of marijuana by medical users. With the creation of Cannabis Appellations (as mentioned earlier), cannabis tourism in Canada could be a novel addition to regional tourism industries. Canadians take tours of craft breweries, of liquor distilleries, and engage in tours of wine country, sometimes bicycling from winery to winery. The cannabis industry might well be very similar. The development of appropriate provincial and local regulations for distribution, sales and consumption could take into account, and capitalize on the interest in the growing sector of cannabis tourism. In addition, under provincial and municipal laws, licensing should allow cafes, restaurants and bakeries to sell infused cannabis products – as licensed liquor establishments are able to sell mixed cocktails Such initiatives would foster a robust Canadian cannabis economy.
www.sustainablecannabis.ca