What happens after cannabis is legalized in Canada?

2016 could be the year when Canada legalizes cannabis. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to legalize cannabis during his campaign, and has already mobilized a team to study the implementation of this measure. However, a number of questions remain unanswered. Here are 5 of them.

Where will cannabis be sold?

Once cannabis is legal, the first question is where it will be sold. In liquor stores like the SAQ in Quebec? These stores are well established, which would allow for wide distribution. But is associating the purchase of alcohol with the purchase of cannabis really a good idea?

Many Internet users are concerned about this possibility, and are leaning more towards the’equivalent of the SAQ for cannabis, These would be cannabis-only dispensaries, as currently exist in Canada for medical patients. The difference is that these new dispensaries would be state-run, which is not currently the case.

We should also see the emergence of cannabis home delivery companies. This marketing model is aimed more at non-beginner consumers, as the relationship with a dispensary employee is important for people with little or no experience of cannabis.

What can Canada learn from the United States?

Colorado was the first state to legalize cannabis in 2012, and to market as early as 2014. Since then, the state has learned a lot about having a legal market. It has seen a large increase in tax revenues, and has changed some of its laws, such as driving under the influence, to take account of people who have smoked.

If Canada were to legalize weed, it would be on a federal level, with a different context. There would be no problems between provinces, and banks wouldn't be able to refuse cannabis money.

Economic impact

How will cannabis growers benefit? Who will grow it? What will the market look like in 5 years' time? These are difficult questions to answer right now. But some entrepreneurs are already in the starting-blocks, like Dany Lefèbvre, founder of Vert Médical, a hemp producer in Drummondville, and Paul Rosen, CEO and President of PharmaCan Capital, an investment company that works with medical cannabis producers.

What impact will this have on the black market? Will drug dealers disappear or just adapt? The findings of the American legalizations tend to suggest that the the black market never completely disappears, but is greatly reduced. Ultimately, it all depends on the price at which cannabis is sold. A price that's too high won't hurt the black market. This is also why Uruguay has set the price of cannabis at 1$ per gram.

Effects on public health and addiction

Patricia Conrod, professor of psychiatry at the Université de Montréal, is concerned that young people are being neglected in the debate surrounding the legalization of cannabis. There will nevertheless be a minimum age for access to dispensaries. But will young people still seek to obtain it in other ways? The law will have to adapt to dissuade them, and treat cannabis as a public health issue rather than a crime.

And although the cannabis is not highly addictive, However, certain health problems are linked to its use. Public health will also have to adapt to take these into account.