12.0 Introduction
Chapter Introduction
Despite more than a century of draconian policies aimed at psychoactive substances and the people who use them, starting in the late 20th century we have seen a gradual shift toward more progressive drug policies, attitudes toward substance use, and treatment of people who use substances (PWUS) in various parts of the world. As noted in previous chapters (See Chapters on International Drug Policy, Alternative Drug Control Policies, and Harm Reduction), such changes are tied to evolving conversations around drug policy and substance use, with a growing focus on health, harm reduction and human rights.
With regard to cannabis policy, although in 1996 California was the first state in the U.S. to legalize the use of cannabis for medical purposes, in 2001 Canada became the first country to implement a national-level medical cannabis policy. The introduction of full legal recreational cannabis followed in 2018, with the enactment of the Canadian Cannabis Act (Uruguay was the first nation to legalize recreation cannabis in 2013). As part of the legalization of cannabis for medical and/or recreational purposes, we witnessed the birth of the legal cannabis industry. Following on the heels of the legal cannabis industry, are more recent efforts to legitimize the medical use of psychedelic substances and develop a medicinal psychedelic industry (e.g., research, production and supply, administration and treatment, etc.).
This chapter explores the origins, growth, and challenges faced by the legal medicinal and recreational cannabis industry, with Canada as the primary focus. Specific attention is paid to the history of Canadian legal medical cannabis policy; the origins, growth and expansion of the legal cannabis industry in Canada; the challenges faced by the industry; government response to industry challenges; and needed change to the legislative framework. The chapter concludes with an examination of the emerging psychedelics as medicine movement, including pioneering research, legislation, and commerce.
Chapter Objectives/Learning Outcomes
After completing the chapter materials, you should have an understanding of:
- Contemporary Canadian medical cannabis policies and key court decisions.
- The emergence of the Canadian cannabis industry.
- Challenges faced by/in the cannabis industry.
- Challenges to the cannabis legalization framework/the Cannabis Act (2018).
- The emergence of psychedelics for medical purposes and the psychedelic industry.
- The push for changes in laws regulating psychedelics.
- Challenges faced by psychedelic science and the psychedelic industry more generally.
Questions to Think About When Completing Chapter Materials
- What lessons can be learned from the study of cannabis legalization?
- What other currently illegal drugs covered earlier in this course would benefit from the move to a legalization framework? What form could these policies take?
- How can the implementation of legalization policies be made easier?
- What challenges and barriers is the legal psychedelic industry likely to face? How can these be addressed?
- What are the challenges and barriers to complete legalization of all currently illegal psychoactive substances? How can these be addressed?