Cannabis in Canada
Part of a series on |
Cannabis in Canada |
---|
Canada portal Cannabis portal |
Part of a series on |
Cannabis |
---|
Cannabis in Canada is legal for both recreational and medicinal purposes. Medicinal use of cannabis was legalized nationwide under conditions outlined in the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations, later superseded by the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations,[1] issued by Health Canada and seed, grain, and fibre production was permitted under licence by Health Canada.[2] The federal Cannabis Act came into effect on 17 October 2018 and made Canada the second country in the world, after Uruguay, to formally legalize the cultivation, possession, acquisition and consumption of cannabis and its by-products.[3] Canada is the first G7 and G20 nation to do so.[4]
Cannabis was originally prohibited in 1923 until regulated medical cannabis became legal on 30 July 2001. In response to popular opinion,[5] the legislation to legalize cannabis for recreational use (Cannabis Act, Bill C-45) was passed by the House of Commons of Canada on 27 November 2017; it passed second reading in the Senate of Canada on 22 March 2018.[6] On 18 June 2018, the House passed the bill with most, but not all, of the Senate's amendments.[7] The Senate accepted this version of the Act the following day.[8]
The federal government announced that recreational use of cannabis would no longer violate criminal law as of 17 October 2018.[9] This legalization comes with regulation similar to that of alcohol in Canada, limiting home production, distribution, consumption areas and sale times.[10] The process removed cannabis possession for personal consumption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act; while implementing taxation and stronger punishments for those convicted of either supplying cannabis to minors, or of impairment while driving a motor vehicle.[11]
As of January 2019, online sales of cannabis for recreational use were well underway across Canada, via the provincial or territorial governments. Most provinces also had storefront operations selling cannabis, either operated by the government or private enterprise.[12]
History
Drug prohibition in Canada began with the Opium Act of 1908.[14] Historians often point to the 1922 publication of Emily Murphy's The Black Candle as the catalyst for the addition of the three extra drugs to a list of prohibited substances.[15] Murphy's anti-drug screeds were widely read and helped spread the drug panic across the country, historian Catharine Carstairs disputes that the seven-page chapter, "Marahuana -- a new menace" inspired the inclusion of cannabis as a restricted substance.[16][17]
Cannabis was made illegal when it was added to the country's Confidential Restricted List in 1923 under the Narcotics Drug Act Amendment Bill after a vague reference to a "new drug" during a late night session of the House of Commons on 23 April 1923.[18] According to one government official, cannabis was outlawed after the Director of the Federal Division of Narcotic Control returned from League of Nations meetings where the international control of cannabis was broached.[19]: 49 Cannabis did not begin to attract official attention in Canada until the later 1930s, and even then it was minimal.[19]: 51 The first seizure of cannabis by Canadian police was not made until 1937.[19]: 48 Commercial cultivation of industrial hemp was forbidden in 1938.[20] Between 1946 and 1961, cannabis accounted for only 2% of all drug arrests in Canada.[19]: 112
In the 1960s, cannabis arrests began to increase rapidly in Canada. For the entire period of 1930–1946, the RCMP recorded only 25 cannabis arrests, but this rose to 2,300 cases in 1968, and to 12,000 cases in 1972.[21] In response to the increased popularization of marijuana and the increase in criminal charges against middle class citizens, the government formed the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs, usually referred to as the Le Dain Commission, in 1969 to investigate non-medical cannabis use in Canada.[22] The commission's 1972 report recommended removing criminal penalties for cannabis possession, though not legalization, per se. While the subsequent two federal governments discussed the recommendation, no steps were actually taken to change legislation.[23]
In 2001, the country started a medical marijuana program, managed by Health Canada. The program originally offered people access to home grown cannabis or sales directly from Health Canada. This was replaced with new regulations that set up a more traditional commercial sector for cannabis cultivation and distribution in 2013.[24][25]
Steps to legalization
After he was elected Prime Minister in 2015, the first significant step that Justin Trudeau took was the creation of a federal-provincial-territorial task force to discuss a jointly suitable process for the legalization of cannabis possession for casual use. This Task Force on Marijuana Legalization and Regulation released a 106-page report to the public on 13 December 2016, with various recommendations. Those were provided for consideration by the federal and provincial governments, but they were not binding.[26] Sales for recreational use were not to commence until 1 July 2018, at the earliest, based on legislation (Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act) passed by the federal government in June 2018.[27]
The substance remains controlled: sold only at government licensed retailers, and grown only by licensed producers.[28][29] During the federal election campaign, the Liberals had promised "new, stronger laws" against sales to minors, driving while impaired, and sales through channels not specifically authorized to do so.[30]
Until 17 October 2018, cannabis remained illegal (except with a physician's prescription, for medical purposes), as Trudeau reminded police forces across the country in late 2016. He insisted that they "enforce the law": criminally charge illegal storefront dispensaries. Trudeau also explained that the intent of the legislation is not to encourage recreational use of cannabis. The intent is "to better protect our kids from the easy access they have right now to marijuana [and] to remove the criminal elements that were profiting from marijuana", he told the Toronto Star on 2 December 2016.[31]
Police forces took the Prime Minister seriously, and in March 2017, raided five locations of the Cannabis Culture retailer in Toronto, one in Vancouver, and another in Hamilton, Ontario. They also searched homes in Toronto, Stoney Creek, and Vancouver. Multiple charges were laid against Marc Emery and Jodie Emery, owners of Cannabis Culture, a company that franchised pot dispensary shops. The couple was convicted in December 2017 of drug-related charges, including possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking; fined; and placed on two years of probation.[32] Drug-related charges were laid against three others who were also subsequently convicted.[32]
Toronto Police had told the media that the unlicensed cannabis dispensaries are linked to "high-level drug traffickers ... often tied to organized crime, given the amount of marijuana sold".[33]
First Nations chiefs attending the Assembly of First Nations widely agreed that the distribution of cannabis on reserve lands should be governed by First Nations governments, and not provincial legislation.[34]
Immediately after legalization, licensed growers often had difficulty accessing financial services. Alterna Savings and Alterna Bank were among the first financial institutions to make loans to businesses focusing on cannabis in Canada, providing primary banking services for approximately two-thirds of the hundred licensed growers in 2018.[35]
Final legalization
After the House of Commons passed Bill C-45, it was sent to the Senate. On 1 June 2018, the Senate passed an amendment to C-45 outlawing cannabis "brand-stretching". The amendment, which passed 34–28 in the Senate,[36] would have outlawed the sale and display of cannabis-related merchandise once legalized.[36][37] The amendment was rejected by the House of Commons.[38]
On 19 June 2018, the Senate finally passed the bill, without the rejected amendment, and the Prime Minister announced the effective legalization date as 17 October 2018.[39] Canada became the second nation (after Uruguay) to legalize the drug.[3]
As expected, the use of cannabis for recreational purposes became legal across the country on 17 October 2018, under the Cannabis Act which "creates a legal and regulatory framework for controlling the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis in Canada", according to a Government of Canada web site.[40] Persons aged 18 or older can possess up to 30 grams of dried or "equivalent non-dried form" in public. Adults are also allowed to make cannabis-infused food and drinks "as long as organic solvents are not used to create concentrated products". Each household is allowed to grow up to four cannabis plants from "licensed seed or seedlings", although Quebec and Manitoba chose to be excluded from this aspect of the legislation. There has been a legal challenge against Quebec's decision by a citizen who contested the ban on growing because the federal government allowed growing up to 4 plants per household. In June 2019 the Quebec Superior court agreed and declared once again in June 2019 that Quebecers could possess and grow as many as 4 plants. The Quebec government appealed that decision and it was declared by the Quebec Court of Appeal the previous decision was incorrect and that the province had the power to ban Quebecers from possessing and growing any cannabis plants with a simple fine imposed. Presently some Canadian lawyers are in the process of challenging the Manitoba ruling and following that will move on to challenge Quebec, this appears to be a joint effort between TOBA grown and NORML.[41]
Each province set its own procedures for retail sales, and these vary as to ownership or retail outlets (by the provincial government or private enterprise), but all include an option for online sales. Since marijuana is illegal in the U.S. per federal legislation, the government warned that "previous use of cannabis, or any substance prohibited by U.S. federal laws, could mean that you are denied entry to the U.S." Canadians travelling within the country (but not internationally) are allowed to carry up to 30 grams of cannabis. Naturally, driving under the influence of drugs remained illegal.[42][43] It was announced that on 1 May 2019, Canada would introduce excise tax on all products containing THC, and introduce three new product classes for recreational sale: cannabis edibles, cannabis extracts, and cannabis topicals.[44]
On 17 October 2019, edibles were made legal in Canada, but with restrictions. The intent was to not allow any products that would be "appealing to young persons", probably including the colourful "gummies" candy which was popular on the black market.[45][46]
Public opinion prior to legislation
Since 1997, public opinion polls have found an increasing majority of Canadians agree with the statement, "Smoking marijuana should not be a criminal offence".[47] In June 2016, a national poll conducted by Nanos Research showed that 7 in 10 Canadians were in favour of legalization.[48]
By 2006, a high percentage of the population was using cannabis,[49] in spite of the risk of police charges for possession, and especially for selling it without the required licence, according to statistics gathered by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Nearly half (44%) of Canadians admit to trying it at least once; no statistics were provided as to the percentage who use it frequently. The CAMH report also indicates that by the last year of high school, nearly half (46%) of Ontario students admit to having used marijuana in the past year.[50] The CAMH discussion includes warnings about the negative effects of cannabis. Other groups also warn about the risk, including the Canadian Automobile Association whose 2016 poll indicated, "Almost two-thirds of Canadians are concerned that roads will become more dangerous [due to impairment by the drug] with the legalization of marijuana".[51] An October 2016 national poll by Forum suggests that about five million adult Canadians now use cannabis at least once a month; this is expected to increase by 19 percent after marijuana is legalized.[5] Canaccord Genuity analysts Matt Bottomley and Neil Maruoka released a research note with a more moderate estimate of the number of users. They predicted that approximately 3.8 million persons will be recreational users (presumably on a frequent basis) by 2021.[52] A report by Canada's Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) is more bullish, estimating that by 2021 some 5.2 million adults may be users.[53] The Canadian government's Canadian Cannabis Survey 2021 found that 17% of Canadians aged 16 and older reported using cannabis in the last 30 days.[54]
Cannabis as a commodity
Growers that currently produce marijuana are licensed by Health Canada under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR). As of late 2016, there were 36 authorized producers across the country in Health Canada's list. Sales were allowed only by mail order, but by late 2017, some major retailers had applied for a change in the rules to allow them to also sell the product.[55] By 21 December 2017, 82 licences had been issued[56] under the ACMPR, but not all of the producers had been licensed to begin selling medical marijuana. The vast majority of these companies were located in Ontario.[57] At that time, no licences had been issued yet for producing recreational cannabis; the producers already licensed were hoping to be added to that list after it is created.[58] Between 1 February and early April 2018, some 89 additional applicants were approved as cannabis growers by Health Canada; at the time, the agency was considering the merits of another 244 applications.[59]
Statistics indicate that, as of September 2016, nearly 100,000 Canadians had bought medical marijuana legally, a significant increase over the 30,537 in September 2015, presumably since it is becoming a mainstream drug and since supplies are becoming more readily available.[60] According to a StatsCan estimate, Canadians may have spent roughly CAD$6.2 billion (US$4.8 billion) on marijuana in 2015, although the agency admits that there is no scientific method of accurately measuring illegal consumption.[61]
The report by the Task Force on Marijuana Legalization and Regulation had recommended that recreational cannabis growers should be licensed at a federal level, separately from the producers of medical marijuana. The expert panel also recommended that the process ensure competition by licensing both large and small producers. While licensing should be federal, each of the provinces should be allowed to determine how and where the product will be sold.[62]
After the plans for legalization[63] became well-publicized, industry analysts reported that some of the producers who had been licensed for medical marijuana, including Aurora Cannabis, were already increasing the capacity of their operations for future sales to the distributors of recreational cannabis.[64]
A report in late November 2017 by Ernst & Young suggested that there would be mergers, leaving fewer players in this industry. "Many believe that consolidation is inevitable, leaving a few large players post-legalization." Also in late 2017, Deloitte predicted that the recreational cannabis market would be worth close to $23 billion.[65] Lately, US Alcohol companies have been showing interest in the Cannabis business in Canada.[66] US Cannabis producers are afraid that Canada is going to be the prime dominator in the market.[67]
On 17 October 2019, alternative cannabis products such as drinks, edibles, and topicals became legal for production,[68] and were expected to be available for sale two months later. Deloitte has predicted that the alternative cannabis product market will be worth close to $2.7 billion.[69]
Due to illegality of cannabis federally in the United States, crossing the international border from Canada into the United States while carrying cannabis is still illegal. Past consumption of cannabis can also lead to a permanent ban on entry to the U.S.[70]
2019 sales volume
An October 2019 report stated that total cannabis sales for the first seven months of the year were only C$524 million when C$4.34 billion (US$3.29 billion) was forecast a year ago.[71] Sales were modest because of the limited number of retail operations in Ontario and Quebec where some 23 million people resided; each province had only 25 outlets, as of October 2019.[71] The relatively high cost of the legal product – almost double that of the black market – and the limited types of product (dried flower and oils) also worked against retail sales.[71] In late 2019, more stores were being opened and a wider range of legal cannabis was becoming available, including edibles, topicals, and vaping products.[71]
Profitability was a problem however, according to a report in early November 2019 which stated, "pot stocks down nearly 60 per cent since March highs". This was leading companies to sell off real estate holdings as a method of raising capital to finance expansion.[72]
Competing with the black market
A report in October 2019 by Bloomberg News painted a bleak picture of the legal cannabis industry. Because of the relatively few retail outlets, especially in Ontario, and the high retail prices, the black market remained persistent. An independent cannabis research firm estimated that the black market accounted for 86% of cannabis sales. On average, on a Canada-wide basis, legal cannabis was selling for about $10.23 per gram versus $5.59 found on the black market according to StatsCan.[73] The province of Ontario tooks steps in 2020 to increase the number of retail licenses issued per month to increase the availability of legal cannabis, in order to combat the illicit market.[74] The market share of legal cannabis products has since risen rapidly, with a Statistics Canada analysis suggesting that Canadians were spending more on legal than illegal cannabis products by the third quarter of 2020, with the amount spent in the black market having dropped by nearly half since immediately prior to legalization.[75] In response to Statistics Canada's 2021 Canadian Cannabis Survey, 64% of cannabis users reported that they usually purchased cannabis from a legal storefront or online store, up from 54% in 2020 and 37% in 2019.[76]
Craft cannabis
Under the Cannabis Act passed in 2018, only producers licensed by the government are allowed to grow the product. As of early October 2018, there were at least 117 such licensed producers.[77]
Although consolidation of the cannabis market in Canada is expected to the point where "a handful of companies will control the majority of the market",[78] many claim that there is an important need for smaller craft cannabis producers that are "more able to adapt to consumer demand".[79] The craft cannabis industry has been compared to the craft beer industry[80] – smaller producers who are able to experiment more and provide a wider variety to the larger companies, which will likely try to please as many consumers as possible. However, the difference is that the relatively new rise of craft brewers in a mature market is different than craft cannabis starting at the same time as larger producers (for recreational cannabis). This will give larger producers the edge in the short term since those companies have more money.[81]
The expected buy-in for craft cannabis producers is perhaps slightly higher than craft brewers,[80] but there are other barriers to launching a craft cannabis company including the ability to market product. Cannabis marketing will be closer to tobacco marketing (which is prohibited in Canada with few limited exceptions[82]) cannabis will be sold in plain packaging and traditional advertising such as TV commercials will be prohibited.[83] They will likely not even be able to mention things that could be important to the consumer such as where it's grown (i.e., "buy local") and if it's organic.[84]
Further, simply selling their product may be difficult. The supply chain is still not entirely clear as it is in the beer industry, but there are ways for craft cannabis producers to sell their product through selling to other micro-processors – and potentially larger producers – or applying for a micro-processing licence themselves.[85] As of the legalization date, consumers cannot sample or purchase product directly from a craft cannabis producer's storefront as you can with craft beer or buy cannabis from a stall on the side of the road as you might from a farmer. However, British Columbia's Public Safety Minister Mike Farnsworth said that the province wouldn't rule out farmers selling direct to consumer.[86]
Still, most craft cannabis producers are optimistic. One craft cannabis producer told The Globe and Mail that "I think there is a real opportunity there for small independents."[85] Craft cannabis producers are seen by some as the "artisans of the industry"[87] who will experiment with strains, increase variety, and produce a quality product that it can sell at a premium.[80]
Excise tax and sales tax
From the early planning stages, the government indicated that the substance would be taxed. An estimate in late 2016 suggested revenues of $618 million per year from a federal tax initially, and eventually, billions, according to a report by Canada's Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO).[53] (A recent government estimate indicates that the illegal marijuana industry is worth $7 billion per year.[88]) The Task Force report recommended that high-potency cannabis (with a high THC content) be taxed at a higher level than the conventional product to make it less attractive to consumers.[89][90]
The federal government had announced in October 2017 that its budget would include $546 million over five years to prepare the "legal framework to strictly regulate and restrict access to cannabis" and another $150 million over six years to enforce the restrictions on drug-impaired driving.[91] Health Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will receive a share of the funds.[92] Of this amount, municipal and indigenous police services should receive $81 million to offset the increased cost of training and resources.[93]
On 10 November 2017, the government announced that the federal excise tax, to be shared 50/50 with the provinces and territories, should not exceed $1 a gram or 10 per cent of the producer's price, whichever is higher. The government's press released did not specify higher tax on high-potency products.[94][95] In December 2017, after demands from provinces for a higher percentage, a two-year agreement was signed to provide a full 75% of the tax; as well, the maximum to be taken by the federal government would be $100 million per annum, with any excess paid to the provinces and territories. The final retail price of the product will include provincial sales tax,[96] ranging from 5% to 15% depending on the province.[97] This arrangement will be discussed again in December 2018 to determine whether the five months of experience indicated that the 75/25 tax splitting scheme had proved to be appropriate.[98]
Regulation by province
In Canada, regulation varies province to province, though there are some general rules regarding promotion, packaging, and advertising. Adult-use cannabis can only be sold in packages of a single colour without graphics other than the logo and a health warning.[99] Cannabis companies in Canada will not be allowed to promote themselves through TV commercials, billboards, or glossy magazine ads, sponsor people or events, or put their names on sports and cultural facilities. To address these advertising challenges, some brands are connecting with popular media influencers like Gene Simmons and the Trailer Park Boys.[100]
The Cannabis Act (2018) gave provinces the power to determine the method of distribution and sale and whether cannabis use will be legal inside private residence or homes if children are present in the home 12 or more hours in a day,[101] and each will also establish the legal age for cannabis use.[102] An excise tax will be levied, to be shared with the provinces and territories.[96] According to the federal government, estimated annual sales will be $4 billion (US$3.2b).[97]
The Cannabis Act (2018) also allows householders to grow up to four cannabis plants, but Quebec and Manitoba announced that they would not permit this option.[95] New Brunswick is specifying indoor growing only in a separate locked space, but will also allow outdoor growing for plants that are up to 1.52m (5 feet) high.[103][104]
The minimum age to purchase and consume cannabis in most of Canada is 19 years old with the only exceptions being Alberta which has it at 18 years old and Quebec where it is 21 years old (the highest in the country).[104] Manitoba and Quebec are currently the only provinces or territories where the legal cannabis age is not identical to the alcohol and tobacco purchase age (19 for cannabis in Manitoba and 21 in Quebec vs. 18 for alcohol/tobacco in both provinces).[105]
Under the newly elected Coalition Avenir Québec government, the Deputy Minister for Health in October 2018, Lionel Carmant announced that the Government will tighten the rules on cannabis consumption, including increasing the legal age to consume to 21 from 18.[106][107] In 2019, CAQ announced Quebec will also ban the sale of cannabis candies and desserts, including chocolate, because federal cannabis regulations don't go far enough in protecting children from accidentally consuming the drug. However recently in 2022 the SQDC (Quebec) are marketing an edible two-pack of 2.5mg THC and 5mg CBD per piece.[108][109]
Military
In early September 2018, the Canadian government released a directive stating that service members will be allowed to use cannabis following legalization in October, but with restrictions on use depending on the individual's duties.[110] Per the new regulations, service members may use legal cannabis, but must cease usage:[111]
- 8 hours prior to duty: all personnel
- 24 hours prior to duty: anyone operating a weapon or vehicle
- 28 days before duty: members involved in high-risk activities such as high-altitude parachuting, operating in a hyperbaric environment, and serving on military aircraft on international operations
See also
- Cannabis in Alberta
- Cannabis in British Columbia
- Cannabis in Manitoba
- Cannabis in New Brunswick
- Cannabis in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Cannabis in the Northwest Territories
- Cannabis in Nova Scotia
- Cannabis in Nunavut
- Cannabis in Ontario
- Cannabis in Prince Edward Island
- Cannabis in Quebec
- Cannabis in Saskatchewan
- Cannabis in Yukon
- Cannabis on Canadian Indian reserves
- Marijuana Party (Canada)
References
- ^ "Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations". laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
- ^ "Industrial Hemp Regulation Program FAQ". Health Canada. November 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
- ^ a b Sapra, Bani (20 June 2018). "Canada becomes second nation in the world to legalize marijuana". CNN.
- ^ Ross, Selena (6 June 2018). "All eyes on Canada as first G7 nation prepares to make marijuana legal". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
- ^ a b Cain, Patrick (12 October 2016). "Canada will see 900,000 new pot smokers under legalization, poll implies". Global News. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
- ^ Vaughan, Andrew (23 March 2018). "Bill to legalize marijuana passes second reading in Senate as Conservatives drop threat to block it". National Post. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^ Anapol, Avery (18 June 2018). "Canada's House of Commons votes to legalize marijuana". The Hill. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
- ^ Scotti, Monique (19 June 2018). "Marijuana legalization Bill C-45 officially passes Senate vote, heading for royal assent". Global News.
- ^ Tasker, John Paul (20 June 2018). "Trudeau says pot will be legal as of Oct. 17, 2018". CBC News.
- ^ "Cannabis Act (S.C. 2018, c. 16)". Justice Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
- ^ Bronskill, Jim (17 December 2015). "Tax on legalized pot won't be a cash cow: PM". CTV News. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ^ "Ontario is holding a lottery for cannabis stores on Friday. Here's what the rest of the country tried and how it turned out". Toronto Star. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ Tara L. Bruno; Rick Csiernik (2018). The Drug Paradox: An Introduction to the Sociology of Psychoactive Substances in Canada. Canadian Scholars. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-77338-052-0.
- ^ Christopher Ray McCormick; Chris McCormick; Len Green (2005). Crime and Deviance in Canada: Historical Perspectives. Canadian Scholars' Press. p. 355. ISBN 978-1-55130-274-4.
- ^ Martin A. Lee (14 August 2012). Smoke Signals: A Social History of Marijuana – Medical, Recreational and Scientific. Simon and Schuster. p. 325. ISBN 978-1-4391-0260-2.
- ^ House, Yolande (May 2003). "The Grandmother of Marijuana Prohibition" (PDF). Collections Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ^ "A Canadian mystery: Why was pot criminalized in 1923?". - CBC News.
- ^ Daniel, Schartz (3 May 2014). "Marijuana was criminalized in 1923, but why?". CBC News. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
The only mention of the proposed changes to the schedule recorded in Hansard was on 23 April, when Beland told the House of Commons, "There is a new drug in the schedule."
- ^ a b c d Carstairs, Catherine (2000). "'Hop Heads' and 'Hypes': Drug Use, Regulation and Resistance in Canada, 1920–1961" (PDF). PhD dissertation. University of Toronto. Retrieved 2 January 2008.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ Textile Horizons. ITBD. 2005. p. 119.
- ^ Canada. Parliament. Senate. Special Committee on Illegal Drugs; Colin Kenny; Pierre Claude Nolin (2003). Cannabis: Report of the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs. University of Toronto Press. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-8020-8630-3.
- ^ Rutherdale, Robert; Fahrni, Magda, eds. (1 July 2008). Creating Postwar Canada: Community, Diversity, and Dissent, 1945–75. UBC Press. pp. 318–. ISBN 978-0-7748-5815-1.
- ^ Hathaway, Andrew D. (2009). "The Legal History and Cultural Experience of Cannabis" (PDF). Visions. 5 (4): 12–13. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
In Canada, the government rejected the Le Dain proposal to remove criminal penalties for cannabis possession.
- ^ "A timeline of some significant events in the history of medical marijuana in Canada". The Canadian Press, CTV News-London. 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
- ^ "A Guide to Canada's Medical Marijuana Program | Leafly". Leafly. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
- ^ The Canadian Press (13 December 2016). "Task force recommends setting 18 as minimum age for pot purchases". BNN. Bell Media. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
recreational marijuana should not be sold in the same location as alcohol or tobacco
- ^ Duggan, Kyle (27 November 2017). "House passes pot legalization bill – but Senate could be a 'wild card'". iPolitics.
- ^ Wright, Lisa (14 November 2016). "Shoppers Drug Mart right spot to sell medicinal pot: poll". Toronto Star. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ^ Cain, Patrick (9 October 2016). "How will legal pot be sold? Three things that might happen, and one that won't". Global News. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ Cullen, Catherine (30 November 2016). "8 burning questions about the coming federal pot report". CBC News. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
- ^ Benzie, Robert (3 December 2016). "Trudeau urges police to 'enforce the law' on marijuana". Toronto Star. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ^ a b Casey, Liam (18 December 2017). "Pot activists Marc and Jodie Emery plead guilty to drug-related charges". National Post. The Canadian Press.
- ^ Brait, Ellen (10 March 2017). "'Prince and Princess of Pot' released on bail". Toronto Star. Toronto. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
- ^ Galloway, Gloria (7 December 2017). "First Nations demand control over cannabis sales". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ Alexander, Doug (6 April 2018). "Alterna CEO embraced weed business when nobody else would". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
- ^ a b Duggan, Kyle (1 June 2018). "Senate votes to ban company branded cannabis swag". iPolitics.
- ^ Aiello, Rachel (4 June 2018). "Timeline of key events in marijuana bill's passage through Parliament". CTV News.
- ^ "Motions Respecting Senate Amendments to Bills". Parliament of Canada. 18 June 2018.
- ^ Scott, Monique (20 June 2018). "Marijuana to be legal in Canada starting October 17, Trudeau confirms". Global News.
- ^ "The Cannabis Act: The Facts". Health Canada. Government of Canada. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
- ^ "Ruling in Quebec home grow appeal expected later this year". 28 April 2021.
- ^ "Marijuana is legal everywhere across Canada now". Inside Halton. Metroland News. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
- ^ "Cannabis is legal in Canada – here's what you need to know". CBC News. CBC. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
- ^ "Cannabis Edibles, Extracts and Topicals & THC Excise Tax Coming To Canadians May 1, 2019". Extract Magazine. Jordan Alexander. 19 March 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
- ^ Ligaya, Armina (25 August 2019). "Companies push ahead on pot gummy plans despite hazy regulations". CBC. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Rodriguez, Jeremiah (15 October 2019). "Cannabis edibles are now legal: Everything you need to know". CTV News. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ^ "Public Opinion and Illicit Drugs – Canadian Attitudes towards Decriminalizing the Use of Marijuana" (PDF). The Fraser Institute. April 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
- ^ Tahirali, Jesse (30 June 2016). "7 in 10 Canadians support marijuana legalization: Nanos poll". CTV News. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
- ^ Marcel Martel (2006). Not This Time: Canadians, Public Policy, and the Marijuana Question, 1961–1975. University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division. p. 28. ISBN 978-1-4426-5885-1.
- ^ "About Marijuana". CAMH. CAMH. 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ "Canadians Worry Roads Will Be Unsafe When Marijuana Legalized". BCAA. BCAA. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
There are a lot of misconceptions out there that marijuana doesn't affect your driving, or even worse, it makes you a better driver ... There needs to be significant resources devoted to educating the public in the run-up to – and after – marijuana is legalized.
- ^ Skerrit, Jen; Lam, Eric (30 November 2016). "Marijuana producer jumps 356% as Canada's investor pot frenzy intensifies". The Globe and Mail. Bloomberg News. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ a b Cullen, Catherine (1 November 2016). "Legal marijuana could raise federal cash – but not right away, PBO says". CBC News. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
In the first three years, it expects the number of cannabis users aged 15 and over to grow by more than half a million, rising to an estimated 5.2 million in 2021.
- ^ "Canadian Cannabis Survey 2021: Summary". Canada.ca. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
- ^ Ligaya, Armina (13 November 2017). "Shoppers Drug Mart seeks medical marijuana brand manager". Toronto Star.
- ^ Zochodne, Geoff (27 December 2017). "Marijuana stocks surge again as trading resumes after Christmas break". Financial Post.
- ^ Canada, Health. "Authorized Licensed Producers of Cannabis for Medical Purposes – Canada.ca". canada.ca.
- ^ Zochodne, Geoff (11 September 2017). "Medical marijuana producers bristle at Ontario's planned monopoly on recreational cannabis sales". Financial Post.
- ^ Skerritt, Jen (5 April 2018). "Marijuana Millionaires Ride Canada's Legalization Wave". Bloomberg News.
- ^ Miller, Jacquie (12 December 2016). "Number of Canadians buying legal medical marijuana triples in just one year". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ Quinn, Greg (19 December 2017). "Canadians Consume Almost as Much Weed as Wine, Report Shows". BloombergQuint.
- ^ Schnurr, Leah; Ljunggren, David (13 December 2016). "Canada should regulate recreational pot production: panel". Reuters. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
The Canadian government should regulate the production of cannabis when it is legalized for recreational use while the provinces should be allowed to determine how it is sold, an official panel recommended on Tuesday.
- ^ Wingrove, Josh (20 December 2017). "Trudeau Sees Pot Legalized by Summer as Law Sits in Senate". Bloomberg News.
- ^ Israel, Solomon (28 March 2017). "Marijuana industry gets boost from legalization target date". CBC News. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
- ^ Armstrong, Peter (27 November 2017). "Merger madness: Canada's marijuana industry enters consolidation phase". CBC News.
- ^ Pellechia, Thomas. "Canada's Cannabis Future Attracts U.S. Alcohol Companies". Forbes. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- ^ "U.S. Cannabis Producers Fear Canada Will 'Dominate The Industry'". HuffPost Canada. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- ^ Thibedeau, Hannah (24 June 2019). "Cannabis edibles available for sale legally in mid-December". CBC News. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ Sokic, Nicholas (20 June 2019). "Deloitte pegs market for alternative cannabis products at $2.7 billion". Financial Post.
- ^ Tasker, John Paul (16 October 2018). "Cannabis and the border: what pot-smoking Canadians need to know". CBC. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- ^ a b c d Kristine Owram (15 October 2019). "One Year In, Legal Canadian Pot Fails to Match the Hype". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
- ^ Kristine Owram (6 November 2019). "Cannabis companies are selling off real estate amid a dearth of financing options". Financial Post. Bloomberg News. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
Sale-leaseback transactions have stepped in to fill the void, becoming a key financial lifeline for an industry that needs capital to fund expansion.
- ^ George-Cosh, David (9 October 2019). "Cannabis 'gold rush' falling short amid cheap black market: Analysts - Article". BNN.
- ^ Ontario removing cap on number of pot shops, opening up market for retailers
- ^ "Statistics Canada Cannabis Stats Hub (archived)". Statistics Canada. 26 June 2022.
- ^ "Canadian Cannabis Survey 2021: Summary". Canada.ca. 26 June 2022.
- ^ "Don't delete your dealer's number yet – legal cannabis shortage looms". CBC News. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
- ^ Wood, David (19 October 2018). "The cannabis industry can expect more growth – and consolidation". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ^ Campbell, Lisa (1 July 2018). "New regulations may spark Canada's craft cannabis revolution". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ^ a b c "Will Craft Cannabis Growers in Canada Succeed Like Craft Brewers?". Licensed Producers Canada. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ^ Reid, Sarah (15 November 2017). "Small pot producers' plans go up in smoke". TVO. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ^ "Legislation by Country: Canada". Tobacco Control Laws. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ^ Delacourt, Susan (23 June 2017). "Canadian pot ads? Think beer ads. Then think again: Delacourt". Toronto Star. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ^ "Craft cannabis growers in B.C. sound alarm over survival of sector". Canadian Press. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ^ a b Efron, Sarah (22 June 2018). "Craft cannabis growers say better bud will be key to thriving in the legal market". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ^ "Craft cannabis growers in B.C. sound alarm over survival of sector". CBC. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
- ^ Ross, Andrea (24 June 2018). "First comes legal cannabis. Then, say industry insiders, will come the artisan stuff". CBC. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
- ^ Cryderman, Kelley (27 November 2016). "Report on Canada's marijuana legalization due this week". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ Duggan, Kyle (13 December 2016). "Set minimum legal age for marijuana at 18, says task force". iPolitics. iPolitics. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- ^ LeBlanc, Daniel (13 December 2017). "Federal task force advises wide-ranging legalization of recreational marijuana". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
The group of experts, chaired by former Liberal minister Anne McLellan, is also recommending that high-potency products be more heavily taxed, to "discourage" their use in the general public.
- ^ "Canada's new budget numbers show booming economic growth – and booming spending". 25 October 2017.
- ^ "Rolling Out Legal Weed Comes With a High Price Tag for Canada". 26 October 2017 – via www.bloomberg.com.
- ^ "Marijuana stocks rally as Ottawa proposes legal weed tax of at least $1 per gram, plus GST". 10 November 2017.
- ^ Mike Hager and Carrie Tait, "Provinces to keep control of online cannabis sales", 18 November 2017.
- ^ a b Paperny, Anna Mehler; Saminather, Nichola (17 November 2017). "Just months away, here's how pot legalization is shaping up in Canada". Global News. Reuters.
- ^ a b Bellefontaine, Michelle (11 December 2017). "New cannabis deal an improvement but legal pot won't be a revenue generator, Alberta finance minister predicts". CBC News.
- ^ a b Wingrove, Josh (2 January 2018). "Taxes Could Help Canada Keep Its Legal Marijuana Prices in Check". Bloomberg News.
- ^ Caroline Cahill. "Finance Ministers Revise Canadian Cannabis Tax Plan". mjinews.com.
- ^ Bissett, Kevin (8 June 2018). "Marijuana industry seeks 'creative ways' to brand product". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
- ^ Miller, Jacquie (3 April 2018). "Rock stars, actors getting in on Canada's race to legal weed". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
- ^ Israel, Solomon (20 June 2017). "As provinces seek the 'right' price for pot, how it's sold could matter". CBC News.
- ^ Cochrane, David (26 March 2017). "Liberals to announce marijuana will be legal by July 1, 2018". CBC News. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
- ^ Cain, Patrick (29 May 2018). "Why marijuana legalization will likely include bans on home grows". Global News.
- ^ a b "New Cannabis Regulations Explained – By Province". The High Investor. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
- ^ "Setting pot purchasing age at 19 suggests 'marijuana is more of a concern than alcohol': doctor | CBC News".
- ^ "CAQ wants to hike legal age for cannabis to 21 by March, minister says". 25 October 2018.
- ^ "Cannabis at 21: Quebec confirms it will raise age ASAP". 24 October 2018.
- ^ "No pot brownies in Quebec as government clamps down further on cannabis | CBC News".
- ^ "Quebec to ban sale of cannabis candies in effort to protect kids". Global News.
- ^ Burns, Janet. "Canadian Military Green-Lights Cannabis Use For Most Personnel". Forbes.
- ^ Paperny, Anna Mehler. "Canada's military unveils rules governing troop cannabis use". Reuters.
Further reading
- Nolin, Pierre Claude; Kenny, Colin (2003). Cannabis: Report of the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-8946-1.
- Kyle Grayson (12 April 2008). Chasing Dragons: Security, Identity, and Illicit Drugs in Canada. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 978-0-8020-9479-7.
- "Cannabis (Canadian Drug Summary)" (PDF). Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. June 2018.
- Ryan Macdonald; Michelle Rotermann, ( 2017) Experimental Estimates of Cannabis Consumption in Canada, 1960 to 2015. Statistics Canada – Economic Analysis Division and Health Analysis Division.
External links
- 2002 Canadian Senate Special Committee on Illicit Drugs
- Failed decriminalization bill
- The Report of the Canadian Government Commission of Inquiry into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs – 1972 – LeDain Commission Report
- Authorized Licensed Producers under the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations Archived 4 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- Cannabis Statistics Hub