By Jon Hiltz

 

Earlier this year the Canadian Medical Association surveyed thousands of members, asking doctors how the recreational cannabis market should be accessed and what products might be sold.  This was in an effort to advise the government and more specifically the marijuana task force on their thoughts for the correct path forward.

Findings varied among physicians, but the results culminated into a submission sent to the task force, with a long list of suggestions.

Of all the questions on people’s minds, one of the most prominent is what the age limit will be for people to purchase Mary-Jane.  This is a delicate balance for the Trudeau government because their main goal of legalizing is to stamp out the black market.  If the age limit is too high, then kids will get their high from a dealer and the process is deemed counterproductive.

In the CMA submission, the group stated they would like to see the legal limit at 25 years of age, citing that brain development continues until about that time.  But the Association further stated that the age of 21 will have to do if the goal is to keep young people from buying it illegally.  It is also important to note that of all the U.S. States who have legalized recreational cannabis thus far, the age was set at 21.  Representatives from the Government of Canada have already noted that they are looking to the U.S. model for guidance.

Further to that suggestion, the CMA said that limits on the amount of marijuana one can buy should be set to discourage people from sharing it with those who are underage.  They also suggested that potency of pot should be a factor as well.

Logic would dictate the latter suggestion should be thoroughly debated before making that decision.  If the high in legal cannabis isn’t high enough, again people will turn to the black market to get what they want.

The Meds also told the Feds that the legal age of 21 should be a national thing, as opposed to the Provincial system of alcohol consumption which has the age at 18 in some parts of Canada and 19 in others.  This would be in an effort to reduce issues with law enforcement at the borders of each Province.

Other points of interest include a potential “phase-in” period of cannabis as opposed to having it everywhere right away (even though it is already). They would also like to start a database of marijuana-related emergency room visits and have a ban on marketing marijuana, similar to the bans in place for alcohol and tobacco.

In their submission to the task force, just as they pointed out in the original survey sent to doctors, the CMA did not give an opinion on whether cannabis should be legalized, because they know that is already happening.  What they did say is that the current system is simply not working and there is “considerable harm to society” by giving people criminal records for non-violent drug offenses, not to mention feeding the black market.

It is also important to note that cannabis dispensaries were the second most popular choice by doctors in regards to where cannabis should be sold, right behind non-healthcare businesses such as liquor stores.

The CMA is but one of many entities looking to bend the ear of the official team ushering in this new era of Canadian recreational marijuana.  Others include licensed cannabis producers, pharmacy chains such as Shoppers Drug Mart, the Liquor Control Board, cannabis dispensaries and law enforcement.