As cannabis business takes off in Canada, many are frustrated by the new amnesty law which leaves thousands with the stigma of criminal records. Here people look at products inside Spiritleaf, the first cannabis store in Kingston, Ont., on April 1, 2019.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg
Cannabis edibles will be legal in October. But the regulations set by Ottawa on cannabis edibles are confusing to retailers, making it difficult for Canada to lead the way for other countries.
A flag is flown during the annual marijuana 420 gathering in Toronto.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Canada’s federal government is running out of time before the summer session to pass a bill that would pardon those convicted of minor cannabis possession.
A customer holds up his receipt after being the first person to buy cannabis at the SpiritLeaf cannabis store in Kingston, Ont., on April 1, 2019.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg
Federal officials have repeatedly claimed cannabis supplies are sufficient. But their own data suggest otherwise.
Governments worry that medical cannabis tax exemptions could tempt recreational users. Some might seek prescriptions to save money. Eliminating taxes on medical purchases of only cannabis oil could work as a compromise.
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Marijuana is known for delivering a good high. But the plant’s uses go well beyond the recreational. Marijuana contains a trove of medicinal compounds whose uses we are just now discovering.
Data from provinces varies, but it generally shows Canadian cannabis users prefer to buy dry flowers (to smoke or vape their weed), want high-quality products and prefer shopping in bricks-and-mortar stores rather than online.
Sharon McCutcheon/Unsplash
Government data outline what’s popular with Canadian cannabis shoppers. Among other things, they prefer smoke-able cannabis, high-quality products and in-store shopping.
It can be tricky to know what to do when someone you care about starts taking drugs.
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It can be really tricky to know what to do when someone you care about starts using drugs. Raising the issue and listening without judgement is a good place to start.
Dogs are more sensitive than humans to the psychotropic (mind-altering) effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cannabis products.
(Unsplash/Ana Martin)
People who use party drugs say it gives them energy to dance and socialise, reduces their inhibitions and enhances their feelings of connection to others.
When considering harm to the user and to wider society, alcohol is much more of a problem than MDMA.
Krists Luhaers
Most people assume drugs are illegal because they are dangerous, but the reasons aren’t related to their relative risk or harm.
A depiction of a cannabis bud drops from the ceiling at Leafly’s countdown party in Toronto as midnight passes and marks the first day of the legalization of cannabis across Canada.
(Chris Young/The Canadian Press)
Government data suggest medical cannabis availability improved after legalization in Canada. But producers have struggled to meet demand for recreational cannabis other than oils.
No, it’s not mostly unemployed people who dropped out of school.
Aranxa Esteve
Around 35% of Australians have tried marijuana at some point in their life, and 11% have tried ecstasy. Most people who try drugs do so for a short period in their lives – mostly in their 20s.
As cannabis is legalized in Canada and parts of the United States, it’s worth looking back on the public health impact of the repeal of Prohibition laws in the United States.
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As cannabis is legalized in Canada and parts of the United States, it’s worth looking back on the public health impact of the repeal of alcohol Prohibition in the U.S.
Students rolling a joint in a classroom. Marijuana may not lead them to other drugs, a study suggests.
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Parents of teens often worry about marijuana use and whether it might lead to other drugs or behavioral problems. A recent study suggests it doesn’t, but that there are real dangers to be aware of.
The growing trend of sexualised injection meth use — colloquially referred to as ‘slamming’ — is a growing public health concern due to the dual risk of transmission of HIV and other blood-borne viruses via both injection and sexual transmission.
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The sexualized use of crystal meth by gay men is one of the key drivers of rising HIV rates and has many negative mental health consequences. Integrated sexual and substance use care is vital.
Cannabis seedlings are shown at the new Aurora Cannabis facility, November 24, 2017 in Montréal.
(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz)
Two-thirds of all US states now have some kind of legal pot, and support for legalization has never been higher. But ballot initiatives can only take legalization so far, researchers say.