There is value in creating safe spaces to consume and access legal cannabis, states CMHA Ontario in its latest round of feedback to government as the province continues to explore an open market system for the drug.
CMHA Ontario’s recommendations are in response to the province’s public consultation process on the benefits and risks of creating cannabis consumption establishments and issuing cannabis special occasion permits which would allow for the sale and consumption of cannabis in specified social settings (e.g. cafés, entertainment venues, festivals and events).
In response to the provincial consultations, CMHA Ontario has provided the following recommendations:
- Guidelines for cannabis consumption should align with existing legislation that governs where alcohol and tobacco may be consumed
- Creation of a Cannabis Card Program, similar to the Smart Serve program, would ensure staff selling cannabis are knowledgeable about the product and its effects
- Limiting the availability of other substances such as alcohol and tobacco in spaces where cannabis is being sold and/or consumed
- Ensuring these spaces are age restricted to over 19
- Limiting the number of products that may be sold per person
The recommendations align with CMHA Ontario’s 2017 submission on legalization and regulation which advocates for a harm reduction approach to the sales and regulation of cannabis, further recommending that cannabis-related revenue be used to support mental health and addictions services.
CMHA Ontario also created a resource to support employers in updating their policies in the wake of cannabis legalization. Impairment in the workplace: what your organization needs to know outlines the rights of employers and employees, approaches to responding to impairment in the workplace, and information on how to develop comprehensive and non-stigmatizing policies and accommodations.