The Legalization of Cannabis in Canada
The Legalization of Cannabis in Canada
In October 2018, Canada became the second country to legalize cannabis sale, possession and non-medical use by adults, preceded by the enactment of cannabis for medical purposes about two decades earlier. Four years since then, the legal cannabis industry has shown profound effects on Canadian life, culture, and economy. Nearly half of Canadians reported having used cannabis at some time in their lives, thus, making it one of the most widely used substances in the country! Dispensary count has grown immensely with its most populated province Ontario opening its 1,000th store in September 2021. The forecast is that the market could grow at an annual rate of 10 percent over the next five years to $8.8 billion. Though it’s easy to fall into what has become our new “norm,” let’s look at what has changed and the road ahead.
The initial ruling to criminalize cannabis in Canada
In 1923, “Cannabis Indica (Indian Hemp) or hasheesh” was added to Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King’s Act to Prohibit the Improper Use of Opium and other Drugs. So, like opium, heroin and cocaine, cannabis became a prohibited drug, when it was added to a late draft of the bill. Its inclusion on the list was unclear because the prohibition of cannabis was not discussed in Parliament, and lawmakers had little knowledge of the drug. Few Canadians knew of or used cannabis. It was only in 1932 when Police first reported seizing cannabis, and the first possession offences did not occur until 1937. From 1923 to 1965, 270 possession offences reports were received; averaging over six offences per year in a span of 42 years.
As cannabis grew in popularity in the late 1960s, the federal government formed a Royal Commission, known as the Le Dain Commission, to study its use. The commission’s 1972 report found that cannabis prohibition was costly to individuals and the state, favouring cannabis users. At the time, the maximum penalty for possessing small amounts of cannabis was six months in prison and a $1,000 fine for a first offence; and severe criminal penalties for trafficking and producing cannabis awaited offenders. With this, the report recommended that cannabis possession be decriminalized.
In 2000, the Ontario Court of Appeal decided that cannabis prohibition was unconstitutional because it did not exempt its use for medicinal purposes. The following year, licensed patients were granted regulated access, as Health Canada ruled that they would be permitted to grow cannabis themselves or access it from licensed producers.
Legalization
As of the 17th of October 2018, adults who are 18 years of age or older are legally able to purchase, possess, grow, and share limited amounts of cannabis. Each province and territory also has the flexibility to set additional restrictions, including limits on possession, personal cultivation, and public use, and increasing the minimum age of use. These allowances have very specific guidelines outlined in The Cannabis Act, which aims to accomplish three main goals:
keep cannabis out of the hands of youth
keep profits out of the pockets of criminals
protect public health and safety by allowing adults access to legal cannabis
Where are we now?
How has this worked out, and how have the lives of Canadians changed? In some areas, the reviews are positive. Legalization has resulted in the emergence of a multibillion-dollar industry, new jobs and tax revenue. There have also been fewer cannabis-related drug convictions among young people, and by 2019 cannabis use by 15- to 17-year-olds reported a significant decline (19.8% to 10.4%). For people above age 15, 5.1 million people nationally (16.8% of Canadians) reported recent cannabis use, which was an increase from the 4.5 million (14.9% of Canadians) reported in 2018, pre-legalization. Obtaining cannabis from other sources also remained a common practice in 2019 – but less so than before legalization. [More recent studies report up to a 22% increase in reported cannabis use]
As far as the three main goals of The Cannabis Act go, it seems we’ve seen considerable success. With such a fast-paced and growing industry, it’s impossible to predict where the World of Cannabis will take Canadians next. With innovation in edibles, infused drinks, varieties of pre-rolls, and more, the World of Cannabis in Canada is ever-growing and has an undeniably bright future!