Dr. Mark A. Ware: Cannabis in Canada: Closing in on a new paradigm for drug research and policy | Le cannabis au Canada : Aperçu du nouveau cadre le recherche et la politique sur les drogues

Dr. Mark A. Ware, McGill University

Thursday April 26, 2018

Canada is poised to legalize and regulate the non-medical use of cannabis, the first G7 country to do so. This policy shift will touch many aspects of Canadian society, will create an entirely new industry, and will attract international interest. Developing and implementing a framework for cannabis regulation has raised many questions about what we know, what we do not know, and what we need to know regarding this popular and often misunderstood drug. This session will outline some of the key themes and influences that have shaped this transformation, and identify those who will play a role in shaping the impact of this policy on Canadian society. Dr. Mark Ware is a family physician and Associate Professor in Family Medicine and Anesthesia at McGill University. He is the Director of Clinical Research of the Alan Edwards Pain Management Unit at the McGill University Health Centre and Executive Director of the non-profit Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids. His research interests include the safety and effectiveness of medicines derived from cannabis and the therapeutic effectiveness of complementary strategies to manage pain. He has served as an advisor to the Canadian government since 2001, most recently as vice Chair of the Federal Task Force on the legalization and regulation of cannabis in Canada.