Cannabis: Our Position for a Canadian Public Policy - Report of the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs (Volume II: Part III)

Second of four volumes of a report. The Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs held hearings with experts and the public between 2000 and 2002, to review existing policy and the state of the knowledge on cannabis use; identify guiding principles for policy development; and develop a broad public policy framework for addressing cannabis use. Part III reviews policies and formal practices pertaining to cannabis. It reviews Canada's National Drug Strategy; the history of legislation governing illegal drugs in Canada, beginning in 1908; and the context for the enactment of the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations in 2001. Police, criminal justice system, prevention and treatment practices are discussed. Recommendations include the development of a national platform to enable communication and the development of clear objectives, best practices, and measurement indicators; and the need to integrate and coordinate practices and approaches across and within provinces, territories, and sectors.