Cannabis legalization in Canada: examining the effect of provincial policies on transitions to the legal retail market

Evaluating the impact of recreational cannabis legalization on Canadian public health is critical. The proposed project will focus on the cannabis legal market in the three years post-legalization in Canada (2019-2021). I will examine five aspects of the legal market: 1) how much money was spent in the legal market; 2) prices of cannabis and number of retail stores; 3) perceptions of legal cannabis; and characteristics of consumers who: 4) grow their own cannabis; and 5) purchase in the legal market. The study consists of two data sources: 1) an environmental scan of the cannabis market to collect ‘objective’ data; 2) population-level data conducted with repeat cross-sectional samples of Canadians. Outcomes will be examined nationally, by provinces, and sociodemographic characteristics.

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) is the leading non-governmental organization in substance use in Canada, and cannabis policy is a core area of focus. Collaboration will provide the CCSA with evidence on the legal market and legislative impacts on public health. The project will contribute scientific evidence to the Government of Canada’s legislative review of legalization. By working with the CCSA,

Faculty Supervisor:

David Hammond

Student:

Partner:

Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Waterloo

Program: