Five years later, researchers say the impacts of legalizing cannabis in Canada have been mixed – CTV
Oct. 11, 2023
Five years after Canada’s move to decriminalize the recreational use of cannabis, researchers say the policy’s impact has had mixed success on public health goals and justice reform since 2018.
According to a report by the Canadian Medical Association Journal published Tuesday(opens in a new tab), trends over the last few years have seen fewer incriminating activity related to cannabis use as well as increasing health concerns.
“Cannabis legalization in Canada appears not to have been the public health disaster anticipated by some of its opponents, but it cannot be described as a comprehensive or unequivocal success for public health either,” the study authors wrote.
While the daily use of cannabis among users has remained stable since legalization, Statistic Canada reported an overall increase of cannabis use from 22 per cent to 27 per cent among Canadians aged 16 and older between 2017 and 2022. Use among Canadian youth, meanwhile, has remained at similar levels as 37 per cent of 16 to 19 year olds reported using cannabis in 2022 compared to 36 per cent in 2018.
