End Reefer Madness

The federal government has now produced its policy document on legalizing and regulating marijuana. ((See “A Framework for the Legalization and Regulation of Cannabis in Canada: The Final Report of the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation,” published by Health Canada on November 30, 2016, and available at http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/task-force-marijuana-groupe-etude/framework-cadre/index-eng.php)) Its recommendations cover the production and distribution of both recreational and medical cannabis products. It is also concerned with restricting access, regulating advertising and promotion, encouraging education about its impacts, and ensuring that under the new regime teenage and adolescent use would be largely prevented.

This is a welcome initiative; legalization has occurred or is under way in many other jurisdictions, and the time has come for Canada to take a...