5 years of legal cannabis: fewer charges, many hospitalizations and more than a few questions
As retailers made it easier to buy cannabis, hospitalization numbers ticked upwar
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
When Canada legalized the use of cannabis in October 2018 after decades of prohibition, the goals were to improve safety and public health as well as to reduce access by youth, crime and the illegal market. Five years later, public health experts say legalization hasn't created any health benefits — but it has been linked to some serious concerns. The Canadian Medical Association Journal includes a commentary taking stock on what's happened with the legalization of non-medical cannabis. More than a quarter of Canadian adults — 27 per cent — say they use cannabis, up from 22 per cent in 2017. The CMAJ paper notes the important social justice benefits from substantial reductions in criminal arrests and charges, along with the associated stigma.
