The federal government has initiated a review of the Cannabis Act. Local governments interested in participating are asked to submit feedback by November 21, 2022. The review will be led by a federal panel seeking to examine the following themes:
- Impacts of legalization on youth;
- Ensuring legal access to cannabis products for adults;
- Preventing illegal activity and displacing the illicit market;
- Impacts of legalization on the access to cannabis for medical purposes;
- Impacts of legalization on Indigenous people and communities;
- Impacts from the home cultivation of non-medical cannabis.
The review will proceed in two parts, beginning with an assessment of the impacts of the Cannabis Act. The initial phase will be informed by an engagement process, including responses to the discussion paper, Taking stock of progress: Cannabis legalization and regulation in Canada.
The review will only pertain to issues under federal jurisdiction and federal priorities as noted in the discussion paper. Provincial responsibilities, such as the retail and distribution frameworks, fall outside the scope of this review. Additional information is provided in the discussion paper.
The second phase of the panel’s work will involve providing recommendations, including potential reforms, to the federal government.
Local governments seeking to provide feedback may do so until November 21, 2022, by completing an online questionnaire or emailing the Cannabis Act Legislative Review Secretariat.