UVic researchers’ recommendations to the Marijuana Task Force

As the federal government moves forward with legalization of cannabis, many lessons can be learned from the Canadian experience with legalization of alcohol.

As 13 researchers from the University of Victoria’s Centre for Addictions Research of BC (CARBC) point out in their co-authored submission to the Task Force on Marijuana Legalization and Regulation in Canada—published today as a publicly available research bulletin—cannabis, like alcohol, is no ordinary commodity. A delicate balance is needed between the pressures for liberalization and addressing potential public and individual harms.

They recommend a public health approach and key policies and practices aimed at ensuring fiscal benefits for government while putting in place effective regulatory pressures to uphold the social responsibility of regulating substances that are potentially harmful to the health of Canadians.

Legalization will likely be associated with a substantial new economic sector largely geared toward maximizing profitability, and a host of new products will emerge to encourage use. If effective regulatory pressures can be applied, say the authors, producers of these products will be encouraged to develop safer products and mitigate potential harms. Legalization will also present more opportunities for research on benefits and harms.

The 12 recommendations cover areas including sale, distribution, labeling, pricing, strategies for minimizing harms, education, and treatment of cannabis-associated disorders.

CARBC Director Tim Stockwell is one of the nationally known experts invited to discuss recommendations with task force members at today’s roundtable in Vancouver. The task force’s final report is expected in November. Scott Macdonald is lead author of the CARBC submission.

-- 30 --