The Devil Is in the Details! On Regulating Cannabis Use in Canada Based on Public Health Criteria; Comment on “Legalizing and Regulating Marijuana in Canada: Review of Potential Economic, Social, and Health Impacts”

Source: : Rehm J, Crépault JF, Fischer B. The devil is in the details! On regulating cannabis use in Canada based on public health criteria: Comment on “Legalizing and regulating marijuana in Canada: review of potential economic, social, and health impacts.” Int J Health Policy Manag. 2017;6(3):173–176. doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2016.114

Abstract

This commentary to the editorial of Hajizadeh argues that the economic, social and health consequences of legalizing cannabis in Canada will depend in large part on the exact stipulations (mainly from the federal government) and on the implementation, regulation and practice of the legalization act (on provincial and municipal levels). A strict regulatory framework is necessary to minimize the health burden attributable to cannabis use. This includes prominently control of production and sale of the legal cannabis including control of price and content with ban of marketing and advertisement. Regulation of medical marijuana should be part of such a framework as well.