Item - 2015.HL5.14

The Board of Health:

1.  Requested the Medical Officer of Health to report to the Board of Health in the first quarter of 2016 on the legalization and regulation of cannabis, taking into account the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Cannabis Policy Framework and other related reports, as well as input from the Toronto Drug Strategy Implementation Panel.

2. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to include in the above report the health implications of:

a. legalizing and regulating cannabis,

b. decriminalizing cannabis; and

c. criminalizing cannabis.

3. Requested the Medical Officer of Health to further include in the report: a national and international jurisdictional scan of government legislation and policy on cannabis, emphasizing what was the reasoning for the policies and laws; input of major stakeholders including the Toronto Drug Strategy Implementation Panel, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Canadian Public Health Association, Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, Health Canada, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Canadian Mental Health Association, Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse and other appropriate bodies; and, a peer-reviewed literature review of health implications for legalization, decriminalization and criminalizing cannabis.

The Council-approved Toronto Drug Strategy (TDS) provides a comprehensive approach to alcohol and other drug issues based on the integrated components of prevention, harm reduction, treatment and enforcement. The TDS Implementation Panel is a multi-sectoral leadership group that provides oversight and strategic advice for implementation of this strategy.

At its May 28, 2015 meeting, the Panel discussed the report entitled, Cannabis Policy Framework, which was released by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in the fall of 2014. The Panel also heard a presentation by CAMH staff on the evidence-base and policy rationale for this report. The Cannabis Policy Framework supports the legalization and strong regulation of cannabis. Their position is based on the available scientific evidence, and the experience of other jurisdictions.

This is an important health policy issue for our community given the high prevalence of cannabis use among youth and adults. The Toronto Public Health Student Survey found 13 percent of youth in the survey reported cannabis use during the previous year.  Further, 16 percent of the grade 11/12 students used cannabis once a month or more.  Rates are similar for adults. The CAMH Monitor, which is the longest ongoing survey of adult substance use in Canada, found 14 percent of adults surveyed in Toronto reported cannabis use in the past year; 42.6 percent reported use of cannabis during their lifetime.

There is growing consensus that the current criminalization approach to cannabis is not working, and that we should be looking at a public health approach to better manage the harms of cannabis use. This view is supported by health organizations, including the Canadian Public Health Association.