Experts and industry people say the Cannabis Act review offers an opening to change Canada’s approach

Richard Raycraft · CBC News ·Dec 30, 2022

The federal government’s ongoing review of the Cannabis Act emphasizes protecting public health — but experts and industry insiders say it also has to find a way to boost the legal marijuana industry and help it compete with the illicit market.

The act, which legalized recreational marijuana in Canada in 2018, came with a requirement that the federal government review it three years after it became law.

After a delay, the government started the review in September 2022. It’s being led by a panel of five experts with a mix of backgrounds in health, law and public policy. The panel is expected to report its final conclusions and advice to the federal government by spring 2024.

“The work of the expert panel will address the ongoing and emerging needs of Canadians while protecting their health and safety. Through this useful, inclusive and evidence-driven review, we will strengthen the Act so that it meets the needs of all Canadians while continuing to displace the illicit market,” federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said in a news release.

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