A panel reviewing Canadian law on adult-use marijuana has recommended that pharmacy access be enabled for medical cannabis. This comes after Shoppers Drug Mart, the biggest pharmacy chain in the nation, requested that pharmacies be allowed to sell medical marijuana products.
By doing so, patient concerns on product shortages and delays in delivery could be addressed. Additionally, enabling this access would allow patients to freely consult with pharmacists on side effects and drug interactions at their own convenience.
The Cannabis Act, which legalized recreational marijuana, established a legal framework for producing, distributing, selling and possessing marijuana across Canada.
The panel, which was appointed by the government, also gave other recommendations, including maintenance of the current limit of THC for edibles. This suggestion was deemed a bit controversial as the current cap stands at 10mg, yet illicit edibles contain almost 100 to 200 times this limit.
It also suggested that the overall excise tax model be reviewed, noting that the average price of marijuana since legalization had decreased greatly, resulting in greater excise payments as sales percentages.
The panel also proposed that products with higher delta-9 THC potency have a higher tax imposed on them in comparison to lower-potency products. The goal of this was to discourage individuals from consuming higher-risk marijuana products and reduce their proliferation.
In addition, the panel suggested that an excise tax-sharing framework with First Nations be developed. It also admitted to the existence of challenges and barriers that faced Inuit, First Nations and Metis entrepreneurs and communities.
Chair Morris Rosenberg stated in the report that the issues had caused public-safety and public-health challenges in different communities. He explained that there was a critical need to look into these issues in an effort to protect public safety and health while also recognizing the rights of Indigenous peoples.
It is important to note that none of the recommendations given are legally binding.
What is clear, however, is that the federal government needs to set aside needed resources and funding to make sure that the marijuana framework is effectively implemented. Currently, the federal government employs hundreds to regulate the drug. This makes it an expensive system to maintain.
Some hope that some suggestions shall be considered for the next federal budget, which will be announced next month. This comes after the standing committee under the House of Commons recommended that duty be limited to a 10% ad valorem rate.
The proposed changes to Canadian marijuana law are issues that entities such as Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NASDAQ: ACB) (TSX: ACB) would be interested in because nearly all jurisdictions where marijuana is legal would benefit from such changes.
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