Reform in Canada Pretense & Perils

Contents
Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................... 5
Preface ........................................................................................................................ 8
Executive Summary ................................................................................................... 10
1. A Brief Orientation to Cannabis Law Reform ............................................................ 13
2. Decriminalization: A Humanitarian First Step ........................................................... 16
2.1 Definition ............................................................................................................. 16
2.2 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 16
2.3 Impact on Consumer Demand, Ease of Access, Use and Associated Problems 16
2.4 Impact on Public Safety & Propriety ................................................................... 17
2.5 Impact on Cannabis Product Safety ................................................................... 20
2.6 Impact on Social Justice ..................................................................................... 21
2.7 Improving the Traditional Model of Decriminalization ......................................... 22
2.7.1 Non-punitive Decriminalization ..................................................................... 22
2.7.2 De Facto Decriminalization .......................................................................... 23
2.8 The Impact of Delaying Decriminalization ........................................................... 24
2.9 Decriminalization: Beyond the Here and Now .................................................... 28
Recommendation #1 .................................................................................................. 29
3. A Legal, Government-Regulated, Commercial Cannabis Industry ........................... 30
3.1 Definition ............................................................................................................. 30
3.2 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 30
3.3 Harm and Costs of Products from Legal, Government-regulated, Commercial
Drug Industries .......................................................................................................... 31
3.4 Impact on the Contraband Cannabis Trade ........................................................ 32
3.5 Impact on Demand, Access, Use and Problems ................................................. 33
3.5.1 Demand........................................................................................................ 33
3.5.2 Ease of Access ............................................................................................ 35
3.5.3 Increased Use and Associated Problems..................................................... 36
3.6 Impact on Cannabis Product Safety ................................................................... 37
3.7 Drug Industry Conduct and Regulatory Effectiveness ........................................ 41
3.7.1 The Alcohol Industry .................................................................................... 41
3.7.2 The Tobacco Industry .................................................................................. 46
3.7.3 The Pharmaceutical Industry ........................................................................ 49
3.7.4 The Cannabis Industry ................................................................................. 57
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