Legalization of Marijuana in Canada
A myTake on impacts
I would just like to take a moment to write about upcoming changes in Canada, and some of the impacts this may have on the population, as well as pharmacies. 
In 2015, it was reported that 21% of Canadian youth and 30% of young adult reported using cannabis, one of the highest rates in the developed world. The Canadian government is currently working on legalizing the possession and distribution of cannabis under Bill C-45. The goals of legalizing cannabis are to restrict youth access to cannabis, protect young people from enticements to use cannabis, deter criminal activity by proposing new laws, protect public health through strict quality requirements, enhance public awareness of the health risks associated with cannabis use, and allow adults to possess and access legal cannabis.
In Canada, marijuana is currently a schedule II substance under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act unless distributed for medical purposes, and is subject to a variety of offences. In the current state of affairs, possession and distribution of marijuana is illegal. Under the new cannabis act, there are several proposals: 
Under this legislation, Canadians over 18 will be able to legally possess up to 30g of dried/non-dried equivalent cannabis, distribute this amount, purchase from a legal vendor (similar to LCBO), grow up to 4 plants in a household, and make products containing marijuana from home.
What would these regulatory changes mean to pharmacies across Canada. As medication experts, pharmacists like myself are uniquely positioned to mitigate risk and enhance patient safety. Studies show that a majority of Canadians are in favor of pharmacies dispensing cannabis, and recognize that it would improve patient safety. In addition, there are several other benefits, such as monitoring for drug interactions and conducting thorough assessments to ensure optimal patient safety. As it currently stands under the new act, the ability for pharmacies to dispense marijuana is dependent on each provincial pharmacy counsel (such as OPA in Ontario) and NAPRA (the drug scheduling body), and so the dispensing of marijuana other than for medical purposes may never come to pass.
I'm in favour of the legalization of marijuana, and I think it provides a unique revenue stream, both for pharmacies and for the businesses that distribute it. I think there's also unique taxation potential that can really help the Canadian economy. I think it also helps curb shady organizations that were previously distributing, and helps "clean up" the system a bit. So long as there are precautions and laws in place in the same way there is for alcohol, I think it should be alright. There is just concerns regarding use of cannabis and driving, and I think as these laws are rolled out, these concerns will work themselves out and will be enforced similar to alcohol.
I'm interested in hearing what you think about the legalization of marijuana in Canada, and access from pharmacies. Are you in favour of it, or not in favour of it? I would also like to hear what people from the US think about this, since I'm not sure if there are any similar laws down there yet or not, and if not, if you think they may follow suit.
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