Senator Tony Dean

This is the fifth in a series of posts on cannabis reform Bill C-45, which is designed to legalize and strictly regulate the production, distribution and consumption of cannabis in Canada. Canada’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) finds that “Legalization, combined with strict health-focused regulation, provides an opportunity to reduce the harms associated with cannabis use.” CAMH is Canada’s largest mental health addiction teaching hospital, as well as one of the…

This is the fourth in a series of posts on the Senate’s consideration of Bill C-45, which would legalize and strictly regulate the production, distribution and consumption of cannabis in Canada   What’s this all about?  Bill C-45 sets out a minimum age of 18 for cannabis consumption, purchase, possession and cultivation, and recognizes the authority of provinces and territories to increase this minimum age.  Provinces and territories have chosen to align the minimum age of cann…

This is the third in a series of posts on the Senate’s consideration of Bill C-45 which would legalize and strictly regulate the production, distribution and consumption of cannabis in Canada   An important agreement is reached on the timing of Senate votes on Bill C-45, and my thoughts on the Bill’s approach to growing cannabis at home. Agreement on timing of votes…. On February 15, and against the backdrop of threats to delay consideration of Bill C-45, Senate leaders reached…

This one of a series of posts about the Senate of Canada’s consideration of Bill C-45, which would legalize and strictly regulate the production, distribution and consumption of cannabis in Canada.   Important Areas of Consensus on Canada’s Here-and-Now Challenges with Cannabis Over the past 18-months we have seen a healthy and open national discussion on cannabis.  There is a growing body of evidence on cannabis, and useful research reports such as the 2016 Expert Task Force R…

This is the first in a series of posts I am writing on C-45 to help you stay informed about the bill and the processes happening here in the Senate.  Bill C-45 would, if approved by parliament, legalize and strictly regulate the production, distribution and consumption of recreational cannabis in Canada. It is designed to better regulate cannabis to discourage its use by minors and to disrupt our country’s massive illegal cannabis market (valued at $6b to $7b annually) in which…

An important new survey on the use of cannabis has been released by Health Canada. Together with other national surveys, this will provide benchmarks for monitoring and evaluation of new regulatory approaches on a going forward basis. Statistics Canada has similarly established benchmarks for monitoring Canada’s cannabis market, and pricing. As the Senate continues it’s consideration of Bill C-45 on cannabis reform we know more than we ever have about the easy availability, wid…