Ottawa, August 13, 2018 — Cannabis legalization in Canada is less than 75 days away. What can we expect when this happens? CCSA CEO Rita Notarandrea recently wrote an article about What to expect when Canada legalises for the New Zealand Drug Foundation periodical, Matters of Substance.

The article presents an overview of what will happen when the law comes into effect this October. More importantly, it states the case that with the legalization of cannabis we can begin talking more openly about the risks, harms and benefits of its use. Legalization is an opportunity to eliminate the misinformation young people have and make an effort to include cannabis as part of substance use programs in the Canadian workplace.

Published quarterly, Matters of Substance is a vehicle the New Zealand Drug Foundation uses to share the best writing on drug policy, and present practice-based knowledge on the best evidence available. The Foundation has published the periodical for over 29 years, during which time it has been a key contributor to debates about alcohol and other drug policies.

The Foundation advocates for policies and practices based on the best evidence available. It recognizes that drugs, legal and illegal, are a part of everyday life. Using this framework, the Foundation focuses on safety and takes a harm reduction approach in all its work.

The article is published in the July 2018 issue of Matters of Substance.