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Health Canada Releases 2022 Canadian Cannabis Survey

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Policy.

Canada was not the first country to pass a nationwide cannabis adult-use legalization measure, however, it was the first G-7 nation to do so, and remains the only country on earth where anyone of legal age can legally purchase cannabis regardless of residence status.

The only other two countries that have passed national legalization measures are Uruguay and Malta. Uruguay is the only country to pass such a measure prior to Canada doing so, yet, legal sales are only permitted to residents. Malta does not currently have a regulated industry.

With all of that in mind, Canada provides the best legalization model for industry research purposes, particularly regarding how a regulated industry affects usage rates in society. Canada’s annual survey results are out, with more information about it below via a government news release:

OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 16, 2022 /CNW/ – The Government of Canada collects data to better understand how Canadians view and use cannabis. Through this data, we can better monitor Canada’s national framework for controlling the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis under the Cannabis Act.

Today, Health Canada published the results of the 2022 Canadian Cannabis Survey. Health Canada has conducted the Canadian Cannabis Survey every year since 2017. The 2022 survey is the sixth cycle of the survey, and data were collected from April to June 2022.

Key findings from the 2022 Canadian Cannabis Survey include:

  • Past 12-month cannabis use among youth aged 16-19 has returned to pre-legalization levels in 2021 and 2022, after increasing between 2018 and 2020.

  • Overall, proportions of those reporting daily or almost daily cannabis use among those who use cannabis (an indicator of problematic or high-risk cannabis use behaviour) have been stable since 2018, including among youth aged 16-19.

  • The percentage of those classified at ‘high-risk’ of developing problems from their cannabis use has remained stable since 2018.

  • The proportion of respondents smoking cannabis have continued to decline since 2018 while vapourizing cannabis using a vape pen has increased since 2021.

  • Smoking is still the most common method of consuming cannabis, followed by eating and vapourizing with a vape pen or e-cigarette.

  • A greater proportion of respondents reported a legal source as their usual source of cannabis compared to 2021, with legal storefronts being the most common source since 2019. A smaller proportion reported illegal storefronts and illegal online sources in 2022 compared to 2019.

  • Among those who used cannabis, driving after recent use decreased between 2018 and 2021 and remained unchanged in 2022.

  • More than a quarter of those who used cannabis for medical purposes said they did so with a document from a healthcare professional, an increase since 2021.

Results of the Canadian Cannabis Survey will be used to inform policy and program development, and help target public education and awareness activities. The data from the survey will also help inform the legislative review of the Cannabis Act, which is being led by an independent expert panel.

This important survey complements Health Canada’s other national substance use surveys, including the Canadian Alcohol and Drugs Survey and the Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey.

Quick Facts

  • The 2022 CCS results are based on online responses from approximately 10,000 respondents aged 16 years of age and older from each province and territory.
  • Data were collected across five themes:
    • knowledge, attitudes and behaviours;
    • cannabis use and products used;
    • sources of cannabis and purchasing patterns;
    • driving and cannabis use; and
    • cannabis for medical purposes.
  • The 2022 survey collected new data on the following topics:
    • accidental consumption of cannabis products by individuals and pets in the household (to note: while the percentage people reporting accidental consumption in their home is small (1%), this would still result in a large number of events throughout the population);
    • exposure to advertisements or promotions of cannabis; and,
    • changes in cannabis use over the past 12 months in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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The Top International Cannabis Stories Of 2022

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Business, Entertainment, Policy, Science.

As 2022 draws to a close we will look back on the biggest stories from the international cannabis community over the last year.

Germany

The biggest story of 2022 for international cannabis was clearly the unveiling of the long-awaited adult-use legalization plan in Germany. Germany’s Health Minister Karl Lauterbach made a formal presentation of the plan to the federal cabinet in October, and Minister Lauterbach is currently lobbying the European Union for its approval to officially introduce the measure which would legalize adult-use sales, possession, and home cultivation. The measure would also remove cannabis from Germany’s narcotics law. Legalization in Germany will have a domino effect on the continent, if not the world, with leaders in the Czech Republic already indicating that they will follow Germany’s lead.

Thailand

It is likely a safe bet that Thailand experienced more cannabis policy activity in 2022 than any other nation on the planet. In June Thailand implemented a very unique and historic cannabis policy, providing the opportunity for every household in the country to sign up to cultivate low-THC cannabis. In many ways Thailand’s new approach to cannabis policy is unlike anything else on earth. Unfortunately, after the new policy took effect cannabis opponents ramped up efforts to go backwards on cannabis policy. Regardless, 2022 was an enormous year for Thailand on the cannabis policy front.

Italy

In late 2021 Italy seemed poised to legalize cannabis in 2022, with local activists having submitted hundreds of thousands of signatures to put legalization to a vote. Enough of the signatures were deemed to be valid, however, Italy’s Supreme Court effectively vetoed the measure in February before voters receive the opportunity to weigh in.

Malta

One of the brightest moments in 2021 occurred when Malta became the first country in Europe to pass an adult-use legalization measure. The measure legalized possession and non-profit cannabis clubs, yet it did not legalize a regulated industry. Fortunately, it was announced this month that progress was made on the bureaucratic front for cannabis clubs, which was often unclear throughout 2022, and that applications for clubs will be available early in 2023.

Russia

It was a particularly tumultuous year for international basketball superstar Brittney Griner who was arrested at a Moscow airport for allegedly possessing vape pen oil in her luggage. Griner played professional basketball in Russia, in addition to the United States, and was traveling for work purposes. Griner would eventually be convicted and sentenced to 9 years of hard labor in a Russian prison camp. Fortunately, Griner would be freed as part of a prisoner swap between Russia and the United States, ending the 10-month ordeal, but not before highlighting how truly terrible Russia’s cannabis policies are.

Slovenia

Cannabis reform efforts ramped up considerably in Slovenia in 2022, with one of the nation’s leading public health experts, Cf. Dušan Nolimal Ph.D., calling for an end to cannabis prohibition in the Balkan nation via an op-ed in the country’s largest media publication. The University of Ljubljana, in conjunction with the Research Nature Institute, also held a seminar in 2022 that featured leading cannabis experts from all over the globe.

Canada

Canada is home to the largest ‘cannabis policy experiment’ on earth as of right now, and 2022 marked the four-year anniversary of the launch of national adult-use sales in Canada. As part of Canada’s cannabis policy approach, the government is conducting a four-year review to see what lessons can be learned. That information will not only be useful to Canada, but also to other countries that are considering following in Canada’s footsteps.

United States

Federal cannabis policy reform in the United States continues to remain elusive on many fronts, however, there was one historic moment in 2022. For the first time since the start of federal cannabis prohibition in the United States the nation’s Congress passed a stand-alone cannabis measure. The ‘Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act’ was passed and signed into law this year, with the measure geared towards boosting cannabis research efforts in the U.S. Unfortunately, the research legislation was the only federal cannabis measure passed in the U.S. in 2022.

Morocco

Historically, Morocco has served as a top international supplier of unregulated cannabis, especially hashish. Morocco was very active in 2022 as it works to move domestic cannabis production into a regulated system. In a historic first, Morocco issued the nation’s first cannabis production permits in 2022.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is currently the largest producer of tobacco on the African continent, with tobacco accounting for as much as 20% of Zimbabwe’s exports. With demand for tobacco products shrinking across the globe, farmers in Zimbabwe are looking for a better crop to cultivate. In 2022 Zimbabwe’s emerging cannabis industry made significant strides, with nearly 5 dozen cannabis companies operating within Zimbabwe’s borders during the year.

Rwanda

Rwanda is one of the poorest countries on earth, with war and conflict being a big contributor. Any economic boost is surely welcomed in Rwanda, and fortunately cannabis reform and an emerging industry are ramping up. Rwanda’s government designated 134 hectares for cannabis production in 2022, and that will hopefully lead to more economic opportunities for the African nation.

Israel

When it comes to cannabis research, Israel has long served as an international leader. Every year researchers in Israel conduct insightful cannabis research, and 2022 was no exception. Additionally, one thing that was extra noteworthy in Israel in 2022 was the nation permitting cannabis seed exports to the United States for the first time.

China And Japan

At a time when cannabis reform seems to be spreading to every corner of the globe, China and Japan are both going in the opposite direction. In China’s largest financial hub, Hong Kong, government officials announced a looming crackdown on CBD businesses in 2022 (to take effect in 2023), with the proposed penalty for future violations being as much as 7 years in prison. In Japan, a government health panel recommended in 2022 that the country boost limited safe access to medical cannabis, which is commendable to some degree. However, coupled with that was an additional recommendation to make the mere act of having consumed cannabis a crime, and that is obviously unacceptable.

Australia And New Zealand

The University of Sydney announced in 2022 that it would offer free cannabis testing to residents of the Australian Capital Territory. In New Zealand, where voters narrowly shot down an adult-legalization measure two years prior, the government announced in 2022 that domestic cannabis production would finally become a reality after years of patients having to solely rely on imported products.

Uruguay

Uruguay will always hold the title of being the first country to ever pass a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure. Yet, the nation’s cannabis policies are still evolving all of these years later, with it being announced in late 2022 that pharmacies would start selling a new variety of cannabis with higher amounts of THC and lower amounts of CBD.

Colombia

It was a very active year in Colombia, where lawmakers continue to work towards passing an adult-use legalization measure. Successful votes were held in 2022 to push legalization forward, and it could result in legalization being pushed over the top in the coming year.

Brazil

Brazil was another country that experienced quite a bit of cannabis activity in 2022, on both the political and industry sides of the cannabis equation. This year also included court decisions in Brazil that bolstered legal protections for medical cannabis patients that cultivate their own medicine.

Argentina

Not to be outdone when it comes to cannabis activity in 2022, Argentina could easily make a case that it was the most active nation in South America. In addition to issuing its first domestic cannabis production license, the government of Argentina launched a public company to provide seeds, testing, and training to the nation’s emerging industry.

Bermuda

It was a bittersweet year for cannabis advocates in Bermuda, where lawmakers approved a substantial cannabis reform measure just to have it later blocked by the nation’s UK-appointed Governor. Due to colonization laws, Bermuda must receive ‘royal assent’ from the UK via an appointed Governor. It’s unclear if/when Bermuda will ever be able to decide its own cannabis policies.

What Didn’t Happen In 2022

Just as it is important to highlight what did occur in 2022 within the international cannabis community, it’s also worth mentioning what did not occur. Going into 2022 Luxembourg seemed poised to pass an adult-use legalization measure, with the same seeming to be true about Mexico and South Africa as well. Unfortunately, legalization never materialized in any of the three countries in 2022.

In the cases of Mexico and South Africa, previous court decisions determined that cannabis prohibition was unconstitutional, however, lawmakers have struggled to fully implement those decisions. Hopefully 2023 will prove to be the year that legalization measures get across the finish line in all three countries, and beyond.

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UK Study Finds PTSD Symptoms Improved After Cannabis Use

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science, Uncategorized.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a major public health issue all over the world. The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is estimated to be 3.9% in the general population, and a much higher rate for those that have lived in countries where war and conflict has occurred.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it.”

As with most health conditions, there are varying degrees of severity when it comes to PTSD, ranging from mild anxiety all the way to full blown panic attacks occurring regularly to the point that the patient can’t function. Flashbacks and regular nightmares are also symptoms of PTSD.

Fortunately, the cannabis plant has been found by a growing list of studies to help people that suffer from PTSD. A recent study in the United Kingdom found that cannabis use is associated with improved symptoms among patients suffering from PTSD. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

London, United Kingdom: Patients with post-traumatic stress experience symptom improvements following the use of cannabis products, according to data published in the journal Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics.

British investigators assessed the safety and efficacy of cannabis products in 162 PTSD patients with a physician’s authorization. Study subjects were participants in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. Study participants consumed either cannabis extracts or THC-dominant flowers for a period of six-months.

Authors reported that patients showed “statistically significant improvements” in a variety of domains, including sleep, anxiety, and stress. Self-reported adverse events were typically mild in severity.

“This observational study suggests an association between CBMP [cannabis-based medicinal products] treatment and improvement in PTSD-specific, HRQoL [health-related quality of life], sleep, and anxiety outcomes at up to 6-month follow-up,” they concluded. “CBMPs were well-tolerated and adverse events manageable. … [T]his study can serve to inform future randomized placebo-controlled trials with the aim of confirming these promising effects, whilst informing current clinical practice.”

Observational studies assessing the role of cannabinoids in mitigating symptoms of PTSD have generally yielded mixed results. A 2021 clinical trial reported that the inhalation of marijuana flowers provided limited benefits compared to placebo in treating symptoms of PTSD.

Full text of the study, “Assessment of clinical outcomes in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder: Analysis from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry,” appears in the journal Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics. Additional information on cannabis and post-traumatic stress is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids.

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Is Luxembourg Abandoning Its Previous Legalization Plans?

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Luxembourg was once thought to have the best chance of passing Europe’s first nationwide adult-use cannabis legalization measure. Of course, that ‘historic first’ never materialized in Luxembourg and the actual first country to pass such a measure was eventually Malta, which did so near the end of 2021.

Even though Luxembourg failed to become the first to pass a legalization measure, there was still quite a bit of hope that legalization would still become a reality in the European nation in the near future. Unfortunately, the chances of legalization happening any time soon in Luxembourg seem to be getting worse with every passing month.

Earlier this month we reported on grievances aired by the general prosecutors office, which cited concerns about ‘contradictions, unequal treatment, lack of clarity, oversights, serious error of logic or even the door wide open to abuse.’

While it is not shocking to see political delay tactics and reefer madness rhetoric being incorporated by cannabis opponents, it is disheartening to a degree to see supporters of cannabis reform changing their tones and the type of wording they use to describe the current effort in Luxembourg. Per RTL Today (translated to English):

Minister of Justice Sam Tanson once again defended the government’s decision to regulate recreational cannabis consumption, pointing out that this was already included in the governing coalition’s programme before the last national elections in 2018.

The initial plan of the coalition between the Democratic Party (DP), the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP), and the Green Party (déi Gréng) was to legalise cannabis.

However, Tanson explained that because the government does not want to allow cannabis consumption in public spaces, they now prefer to talk about “regulation” rather than “legalisation.” In addition, cannabis will be “decriminalised,” as residents will be permitted to carry up to 3 grammes of marijuana.

In addition to permitting possession of up to 3 grams, the current proposal being circulated in Luxembourg’s political circles would also permit the cultivation of up to four plants. For contextual purposes, Germany is considering legalizing possession of up to 30 grams of cannabis and the cultivation of up to three plants, and Malta currently permits the possession of up to 7 grams of cannabis and four plants.

cannabis flower buds

Is Luxembourg Abandoning Its Previous Legalization Plans?

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Luxembourg was once thought to have the best chance of passing Europe’s first nationwide adult-use cannabis legalization measure. Of course, that ‘historic first’ never materialized in Luxembourg and the actual first country to pass such a measure was eventually Malta, which did so near the end of 2021.

Even though Luxembourg failed to become the first to pass a legalization measure, there was still quite a bit of hope that legalization would still become a reality in the European nation in the near future. Unfortunately, the chances of legalization happening any time soon in Luxembourg seem to be getting worse with every passing month.

Earlier this month we reported on grievances aired by the general prosecutors office, which cited concerns about ‘contradictions, unequal treatment, lack of clarity, oversights, serious error of logic or even the door wide open to abuse.’

While it is not shocking to see political delay tactics and reefer madness rhetoric being incorporated by cannabis opponents, it is disheartening to a degree to see supporters of cannabis reform changing their tones and the type of wording they use to describe the current effort in Luxembourg. Per RTL Today (translated to English):

Minister of Justice Sam Tanson once again defended the government’s decision to regulate recreational cannabis consumption, pointing out that this was already included in the governing coalition’s programme before the last national elections in 2018.

The initial plan of the coalition between the Democratic Party (DP), the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP), and the Green Party (déi Gréng) was to legalise cannabis.

However, Tanson explained that because the government does not want to allow cannabis consumption in public spaces, they now prefer to talk about “regulation” rather than “legalisation.” In addition, cannabis will be “decriminalised,” as residents will be permitted to carry up to 3 grammes of marijuana.

In addition to permitting possession of up to 3 grams, the current proposal being circulated in Luxembourg’s political circles would also permit the cultivation of up to four plants. For contextual purposes, Germany is considering legalizing possession of up to 30 grams of cannabis and the cultivation of up to three plants, and Malta currently permits the possession of up to 7 grams of cannabis and four plants.

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Study Finds Medical Cannabis Reform In Canada Associated With Reduced Alcohol Sales

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Policy.

A study in 2015 found that cannabis is 114 times safer than alcohol. That, of course, highlights some of the irony behind cannabis still being illegal in many parts of the world, even for medical use, while alcohol is legal in nearly all (if not all) of those same countries.

This is not to say that alcohol should be prohibited. Much like cannabis prohibition, alcohol prohibition does not work and results in more harm than good. Just as people can and should be able to consume cannabis responsibly, so too should they be able to do so with alcohol.

With that being said, cannabis is exponentially safer compared to alcohol, so any reduction in alcohol use is a good thing overall for society from a public health standpoint. According to a recent study in Canada, medical cannabis reform is associated with reduced alcohol sales. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Ontario, Canada: The adoption of medical cannabis access in Canada was associated with reductions in alcohol sales, according to data published in the journal Health Policy.

A Canadian researcher evaluated the relationship between medical cannabis legalization and retail sales of alcohol in various regions of the country over an eight-year period.

The author determined: “This study found a significant negative association between legal medical cannabis sales and liquor store alcohol sales: each cannabis sales dollar was associated with an average alcohol sales reduction of between $0.74 and $0.84. The negative association was robust with respect to several alternative modeling choices.”

He concluded, “From a public health perspective, the results likewise imply that reductions in alcohol-related health impacts might partly offset the increased cannabis-related health impacts that legalization might bring.”

A 2017 analysis of US beverage sales identified a similar decline in alcohol sales following the adoption of statewide medical cannabis legalization laws, as did a 2021 assessment of Youth Risk Behavioral Survey data. By contrast, a more recent study evaluating the impact of adult-use legalization laws in the United States reported an association with increased alcohol use those age 21 and older.

Full text of the study, “Relationship between sales of legal cannabis and alcohol in Canada,” appears in Health Policy.

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Bavaria’s Health Minister Increases Efforts To Try To Prevent German Legalization

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Earlier this month we reported that Germany’s Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) was seeking an ‘expert opinion’ to help with his European Union legalization lobbying push. Minister Lauterbach mentioned as part of his formal presentation to the federal cabinet in Germany back in October that prior to formally introducing a legalization measure he would seek the European Union’s approval to proceed.

At first it seemed to be a bit unclear as to why exactly an expert opinion would be incorporated into the lobbying effort, however, this week Bavaria’s Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) announced that he too would be seeking an expert opinion as part of his opposition push, which doesn’t seem like a coincidence. Minister Holetschek has emerged as the leading domestic voice against the Traffic Light Coalition’s legalization plan.

In his latest attempt to try to derail the legalization effort Minister Holetschek will commission an expert opinion from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. Per Nordbayern:

Bavaria’s Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) wants to have the federal government’s plans for cannabis legalization examined with a legal opinion. “Despite major health risks and legal concerns, the traffic light coalition has so far stuck to its plans. That’s why I commissioned a legal opinion to clarify the international and European legal limits of cannabis legalization in Germany,” said Holetschek. His goal is to objectify the debate.

Bernhard Wegener, Chair of Public Law and European Law at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, has been commissioned to draft the report. The report should be available by the end of February 2023.

Minister Holetschek may be the leading voice against legalization, however, he is not the only one to speak out against current German reform efforts. North Rhine-Westphalian Minister of the Interior, Herbert Reul, has also spoken out against legalization in recent days.

In an interview this week with Frankfurter Allgemeine, Minister Reul described the Traffic Light Coalition’s adult-use legalization plan as being “insane” and stated in the interview, “I dread legalization.” Comments were translated from German to English.

What is not being talked about among cannabis opponents in Germany, at least not in good faith, is the harms of cannabis prohibition. Cannabis prohibition is exponentially more harmful than any ‘social costs’ related to legalization. Canada and Uruguay are proving that in real time, and soon Malta likely will as well.

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Australian Researchers Find Lacking Evidence To Support Cannabis ‘Hangover’ Claims

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

When cannabis opponents speak out against cannabis they incorporate a variety of talking points, with some being more ridiculous than others. It seems as if some opponents will do or say just about anything to portray cannabis use in a negative fashion.

One argument that seems to be deployed at an increasing rate is that ‘cannabis causes hangovers.’ In an example of the sad hypocrisy that often accompanies anti-cannabis propaganda, very rarely, if ever, do those same cannabis opponents call for an end to alcohol sales due to hangovers.

Furthermore, while there is ample evidence that alcohol use can result in hangovers, researchers in Australia have found that the same is not true for cannabis, despite what cannabis opponents may claim. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

New South Wales, Australia: The majority of available data fails to support claims that cannabis may potentially impact either cognitive function or subjects’ performance of safety sensitive tasks 24 hours after consumption, according to a review of the scientific literature published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.

A team of Australian researchers reviewed data from 20 studies involving 458 subjects. Selected studies assessed subjects’ performance 12 to 24 hours following THC dosing.

Investigators failed to identify any evidence of so-called THC-specific “next-day effects” in 16 of the 20 studies reviewed.

They concluded: “A small number of lower-quality studies have observed negative (i.e., impairing) ‘next day’ effects of THC on cognitive function and safety-sensitive tasks. However, higher-quality studies, and a large majority of performance tests, have not. Overall, it appears that there is limited scientific evidence to support the assertion that cannabis use impairs ‘next day’ performance.”

Authors further opined that the imposition of workplace drug testing policies that detect the long-term presence of cannabis metabolites and impose sanctions upon those who test positive for them are arguably not justified by the available data.

Full text of the study, “The ‘next day’ effects of cannabis use: A systematic review,” appears in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. Additional information is available in NORML’s fact sheet, ‘Marijuana Legalization and Impact on the Workplace.’

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Saskatchewan Government Files First Nations Cannabis Authority Legislation

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

The emerging cannabis industry has the potential to transform communities and boost opportunities for those that live where cannabis commerce is permitted. A report from earlier this year by Deloitte highlighted just how much the legal cannabis industry has helped communities in Canada.

One of the major takeaways from the analysis is that the legal cannabis industry in Canada had created roughly 151,000 jobs as of the report’s publishing. In addition to generating new jobs across the country, the emerging legal cannabis industry was responsible for generating over $15 billion since legal adult-use sales launched in late 2018.

The overall economic boost from Canada’s legalized industry is substantial. Deloitte estimated that the legal cannabis industry in Canada had contributed over $43.5 billion to the nation’s GDP since the start of legalization as of February. Cannabis companies have directly invested roughly $4.4 billion into Canada’s economy, with the remaining boost to GDP coming from “indirect” economic contributions, and “induced” contributions according to Deloitte.

First Nations in Canada are progressively getting more involved in the emerging cannabis industry, and in Saskatchewan specifically, lawmakers are pushing for First Nations to be able to self-govern and self-regulate the cannabis industry on-reserve. Below is more information about it via a news release form the government of Saskatchewan:

Today, the Government of Saskatchewan introduced two pieces of legislation that lay the groundwork for increased First Nations self-governance.

The Summary Offences Procedure Amendment Act, 2022 will provide a legal framework that First Nations communities can use to enforce laws and bylaws on reserve.

“The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to take this important step as part of our ongoing work with the Muskoday and Whitecap Dakota First Nations,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre said. “These amendments will allow these and other First Nations communities in the future to use the more simplified summary offences procedure, instead of the long-form process under the federal Criminal Code, to issue tickets and fines such as those issued for traffic violations and other provincial offences.”

These amendments follow a Memorandum of Understanding that was signed by the Government of Saskatchewan, Muskoday First Nation and Whitecap Dakota First Nation on October 18, 2019, to address longstanding issues around the enforcement of First Nations’ laws.

“First Nations assert their jurisdiction and maintain community safety by creating laws under the Indian Act, land codes, and other federal legislation but there have been difficulties in enforcing these laws in the courts,” Chief of Whitecap Dakota First Nation Darcy Bear said. “Through our work with the provincial government, the amendments to SOPA will give us access to prosecution and enforcement tools that will give force to our laws in areas such as environmental protection and community safety; and strengthen the place of our laws alongside federal and provincial law.”

The Cannabis Control (Saskatchewan) Amendment Act, 2022 establishes the provincial legal framework for First Nations to license and regulate the distribution and retailing of cannabis on-reserve.

“Our government supports First Nations exercising their authority over on-reserve distribution and retailing of cannabis through a legal framework with SLGA,” Minister Responsible for SLGA Lori Carr said. “This change further fosters reconciliation by ensuring First Nation-owned businesses are able to fully participate in the economic opportunities presented by the retail cannabis industry.”

The proposed amendments provide First Nations the opportunity to create their own First Nations regulatory framework consistent with federal and provincial legislation to establish a local cannabis authority. Once established, stores regulated by First Nations will have access to federally regulated cannabis products.

These amendments will also require all Saskatchewan cannabis retailers to only ask for proof of age when a purchaser appears to be under the age of 25. Currently, retailers are required to ask for proof of age from all purchasers.