Abstract
BackgroundCanada implemented the legalization and regulation of non-medical cannabis use, production and sale in 2018 aiming to improve public health and safety. While outcomes from legalization reforms in other jurisdictions mostly rely on US-based data have been assessed to be mixed, Canadian data are only emerging. We compiled select population-level data on key indicators to gauge initial developments from pre- to post-legalization of cannabis in Canada.MethodsWe examined indicators data focusing on the following topics: prevalence of cannabis use, frequency of use, methods/products of consumption, driving after cannabis use, and cannabis sourcing. Indicator data were obtained mostly from national and some provincial population surveys. Prevalence or percentages for the indicators pre- and post-legalization (e.g., 2017- 2020), including confidence intervals were reported, with changes noted, as available in and indicated by the data sources.ResultsData suggested selected increases in cannabis use prevalence, mostly among mid- and older- but possibly also younger (e.g., under legal use age) users. Frequency of use and driving after cannabis use among active users do not appear to have changed. Methods of cannabis use show diversifying trends, with decreases in smoking and increases in alternatives use modes (e.g., edibles, vaping). There is a clearly increasing trend towards accessing cannabis from legal sources among adults, while under-legal-use-age youth do not appear to experience heightened barriers to obtaining cannabis in legalization contexts.ConclusionsPreliminary indicators on cannabis legalization in Canada show a mixed picture, some similar to US-based developments. While some use increases are observed, these do not necessarily represent indications of increases in cannabis-related harm, also since key (e.g., hospitalization or injury) data are lacking to date. There is a gradual embracing of legal supply sources of cannabis among users, which can be expected to serve public health and safety objectives. At the same time, cannabis use and access among under-age users as a principally vulnerable group do not appear to be hindered or reduced by legalization.
Highlights
In October 2018, Canada implemented the legalization and regulation of non-medical cannabis use, production and sale
As Canada finds itself approximately three-years since the implementation of non-medical cannabis legalization and in contexts of only limited other outcome data [15], we summarize selected key population-based indicators towards a preliminary assessment of developments in these outcomes from pre- to post- legalization of cannabis
Additional data are expected to become available on key outcomes of cannabis legalization in Canada, adding to the evolving evidence base for assessing this ongoing policy reform experiment
Summary
In October 2018, Canada implemented the legalization and regulation of non-medical cannabis use, production and sale. Under Canada’s cannabis legalization regime, a mix of federal and provincial regulations stipulate a minimum age for legal cannabis use/purchase (18 years in Alberta, 21 in Quebec and 19 years in all other provinces), restrict places-of-use and ban advertising. They regulate the legal availability of a variety of commercially produced cannabis (including herbal/flower, oils, extracts/concentrates, vape, edibles/drinkable) products via provincially managed (public and/or private) retail systems. Canada implemented the legalization and regulation of non-medical cannabis use, production and sale in 2018 aiming to improve public health and safety.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
