Ontario’s plan not to cap the number of retail outlets that sell cannabis has deeply “disappointed” one local expert who has spent much of his career researching and teaching alcohol and drug policy.
Heather Rivers
“I am concerned the Ford government policies will increase its
availability and usage,” said Western University law professor Robert
Solomon, who also has served on the board of the Ontario Addiction
Research Foundation and is national director of legal policy for MADD
Canada.
Queen’s Park recently announced they will not limit the number of retail licences it will issue to businesses that want to sell cannabis as long as they are properly licensed, scrapping the Liberal’s plan to sell cannabis at stores run by the LCBO.
A 2018 report by Deloitte found sales of medical, legal and illegal cannabis are expected to generate $7.17 billion in total sales 2019.
The report also showed current cannabis users expect to buy more cannabis after legalization than they did before.
Solomon said he believes under the new regulations cannabis will become “over-legalized and under-regulated.”
“It’s a fact that harms will increase,” he said.
Solomon said research shows government monopolies on substances such as alcohol – which check identification, for example — have much better outcomes from a health and safety perspective.
“The more widely available, the cheaper the cost,” he said. “It would likely increase rates of use and harms, particularly for young people.”
While Solomon admits the harms from cannabis are not as severe as alcohol or drugs, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a down side.
“That doesn’t mean it is benign,” he said.
Statistics for those who may develop addiction issue are about nine per cent of regular users of cannabis.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, Canada has one of the highest rates of marijuana use in the world, with about 10 per cent using in the last year.
“There is going to be a huge treatment bill down the road,” Solomon said. “It’s concerning.”
Solomon also is worried about the potential for an increased number of people who will drive impaired after using cannabis.
“Some will crash,” he said.
Queen’s Park recently announced they will not limit the number of retail licences it will issue to businesses that want to sell cannabis as long as they are properly licensed, scrapping the Liberal’s plan to sell cannabis at stores run by the LCBO.
A 2018 report by Deloitte found sales of medical, legal and illegal cannabis are expected to generate $7.17 billion in total sales 2019.
The report also showed current cannabis users expect to buy more cannabis after legalization than they did before.
Solomon said he believes under the new regulations cannabis will become “over-legalized and under-regulated.”
“It’s a fact that harms will increase,” he said.
Solomon said research shows government monopolies on substances such as alcohol – which check identification, for example — have much better outcomes from a health and safety perspective.
“The more widely available, the cheaper the cost,” he said. “It would likely increase rates of use and harms, particularly for young people.”
While Solomon admits the harms from cannabis are not as severe as alcohol or drugs, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a down side.
“That doesn’t mean it is benign,” he said.
Statistics for those who may develop addiction issue are about nine per cent of regular users of cannabis.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, Canada has one of the highest rates of marijuana use in the world, with about 10 per cent using in the last year.
“There is going to be a huge treatment bill down the road,” Solomon said. “It’s concerning.”
Solomon also is worried about the potential for an increased number of people who will drive impaired after using cannabis.
“Some will crash,” he said.
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