The current equivalency rates for cannabis possession limits in Canada allow an individual to carry up to 30 grams of dried cannabis but only 2.1 liters (71 ounces) of cannabis-infused beverages. That limit presents a regulatory obstacle to marijuana beverage manufacturers because it limits the volume of drinks a consumer can purchase at one time. Earlier this year, Canopy Growth President and chief Product Officer Rade Kovacevic told Marijuana Business Daily that the company wanted the equivalency table changed. “The issue is that the possession limits, as written with respect to beverages, incentivize consumers to veer toward high-THC, low-volume products,” said Alanna Sokic, a Toronto-based senior consultant with Global Public Affairs who has lobbied on behalf of cannabis beverage producers.

You can buy marijuana Vancouver in our store. In response to the high use rates among Canadians — particularly among youth — the federal government legalized the recreational use of cannabis in October 2018. Canadian physicians have also been addressing the impacts of high use rates amongst their patients. Given physicians’ stake in the issue, the CMA was a prominent voice throughout the deliberations of the federal Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation, legislation and regulations. 

Today, we continue to advocate for a public health approach to cannabis with three primary aims: prevent problematic drug use; make assessment, counselling and treatment services more available; and improve safety for those who use through harm reduction programs and awareness. 

While the CMA recognizes that some individuals suffering from terminal illness or chronic disease may obtain relief with cannabis, there remains a need for clinical research, regulatory reviews and guidance for the use of cannabis for medical purposes. Regulatory reviews are designed to protect patients and to provide critical information to physicians, such as clinical indications, dosages, and potential interactions with medications.