Canada’s cannabis ‘revolution’ revisited

Five years ago this week I was in Vancouver.

It was the end of a 17-day holiday that began in Seattle and included a seven-day cruise to Alaska.

After we disembarked in Vancouver we spent four days in the city which is often ranked as one of the best places in the world for quality of life, and I could see why.

I wrote about it here, but of greater interest (probably) to readers of this blog was my guided ‘tour’ of licensed and unlicensed cannabis stores in the city which I also wrote about - see Canada’s cannabis ‘revolution’.

In 2019 the legalisation of cannabis in Canada was in its infancy and there were still some issues.

One was the level of tax on ‘legal’ cannabis that made it considerably more expensive than illicit cannabis with the result that many consumers stayed loyal to their unlicensed (ie illegal) suppliers.

Last year, five years after legalisation, it was reported that the cannabis market in Canada was struggling (Has Canada's legal cannabis industry gone to pot?):

Part of the problem, experts and industry leaders say, is overregulation of the drug as the country attempts to toe a careful line between public health and building a robust cannabis industry.

Also:

By law, cannabis companies cannot advertise their products or build brand recognition in the way companies in other industries can.

Sound familiar?

Moreover, and this is something vape manufacturers and retailers may have to contend with if Labour health secretary Wes Streeting follows through on his threat to “come down like a ton of bricks” on the vaping industry:

Retail locations have tinted windows to conceal what is inside, and the drug is sold in government-approved packaging.

I’m following this from afar and I don’t profess to know much about it, but the issue interests me because there has been talk of decriminalising the use of cannabis in the UK, and even legalising its sale.

I’m not against the idea, but it does annoy me that many of the advocates for the legalisation of cannabis are quite happy for government to pursue the war on tobacco, and smokers, which doesn’t sit well with me.

There may be a greater health risk from smoking combustible tobacco, but I’m pretty sure that the latter - even if you are addicted to nicotine - is not a significant mind altering substance in the way that cannabis can be.

It certainly won’t stop you doing your job, for example, nor does driving while smoking a cigarette pose an excessive risk to other road users. Drive under the influence of cannabis however …

Anyway, I’m not going to get into all that right now, but if anyone wants to comment (based on personal experience), please do.

See also: Cannabis in Canada - get the facts (Government of Canada).

Note the emphasis on the risks. I’m all for educating people about the health risks, but let’s not forget that this a recreational product that many people enjoy, often (as one person in Vancouver told me) while relaxing at home with a glass of wine.

I haven’t read every page of ‘Cannabis in Canada - get the facts’, but is it any wonder that many consumers stick with their cheaper unlicensed suppliers and ignore this fear-mongering, nanny state, approach?

Funnily enough, the most off-putting feature of buying iQOS heated tobacco from an iQOS store were the follow-up messages that went on for about a month after I bought the damn thing.

Thanks, I felt like replying, but I’m an adult. Now leave me alone!

Below: Cannabis edible in plain packaging!