This month marked the fifth anniversary of the federal government passing the Cannabis Act, a piece of legislation that legalized the production and sale of marijuana.
There was much hand wringing in the lead up to that historic occasion back in the fall of 2018, which was understandable given it was moving the country into uncharted territory, but concerns about Canada turning into a nation of potheads haven’t materialized, at least not to any significant extent.
The cannabis industry has created tens of thousands of jobs, millions in tax revenues and billions in GDP, so from an economic standpoint, it's hard to argue with its success. However, it hasn’t been all highs — pun intended — as retail rollout was far from smooth in all jurisdictions and demand didn’t meet initial expectations, prompting some large-scale producers to shutter operations in the early going.
The economic benefits that came with regulation were largely anticipated, but how communities across the country would accept a previously illicit drug becoming legal was another matter entirely. There was a worry, at least among some, that widespread access to pot would erode society’s moral fabric, putting us on a slippery slope to who knows where.
Although you’re hard-pressed to pass a strip mall these days without coming across a cannabis store, that feared social decay isn’t evident and the industry’s outlets, which number close to 4,000 nation-wide, are no more intrusive than other retail offerings.
It should also be noted that the medicinal benefits of many cannabis products, including CBD oil, which can provide pain relief and relaxation without mind-altering effects, have been a positive development for many people.
However, like any industry in its infancy, we won’t know the full ramifications of legalizing cannabis, including downsides like potential public health impacts, without years of data. Until that time, it’s difficult to draw any concrete conclusions, but five years in, we’re not off to a bad start.
