As cannabis legalization looms the questions surrounding safe usage, distribution and the stigma of taking drugs is a swirling debate of misinformation and fear.

As a leader of a health promotions program, I wanted concrete information and guidelines to share with my Women Warrior participants. I interviewed Dr. Rebecca Saah, assistant professor in the department of community health at the University of Calgary.

Her research is focused on youth cannabis use and the public health policy implications of cannabis legalization in Canada. She will be in Yellowknife on June 11 to present to high schools, health professionals, and recreation leaders on cannabis legalization and youth.

Substance use and criminalization

Saah said all demographics of Canadians currently smoke pot and an important reason for legalizing cannabis is, SA国际影视传媒渢he harms of criminalizing the drug have outweighed the benefit. It is an ineffective use of law enforcement and the courts, and the fact is this stigma is not benign.SA国际影视传媒�

SheSA国际影视传媒檚 referring to the fact that being charged with the possession of marijuana carries the same or similar consequences as more problematic substances such as meth, cocaine, heroin and fentanyl.

SA国际影视传媒�The harms to people from cannabis use are considerably lesser than substances such as cocaine or tobacco," said Saah. "All drugs should not be treated the same.SA国际影视传媒�

Saah said having a criminal record carries life-long consequences including the inability to cross the border to the United States, or not being able to work with children or vulnerable populations. For example: not being able to coach your childSA国际影视传媒檚 sports team.

In addition, people of colour and Indigenous people have been over-policed and stigmatized regarding pot use and possession by law enforcement and the courts.

"Black and Indigenous people are over-represented in CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 weed arrests,SA国际影视传媒� states an article in Vice.com. SA国际影视传媒淚ndigenous people in Regina were nearly nine times more likely to get arrested for cannabis possession than white people during that time period. Meanwhile, black people in Halifax were more than five times more likely to get arrested for possessing weed than white people.SA国际影视传媒�

While Ottawa ponders granting amnesty for past convictions, the damage of a criminal record and the social stigma of being a convicted drug user or dealer has disproportionately affected minority groups. The incoming cannabis legalization means an important discussion on how to change the dialogue surrounding the stigma of substance abuse and why the war on drugs has been racialized.

Saah directed me to an expert in the field of race, crime and criminal justice, Dr. Owusu-Bempah, assistant professor at the University of Toronto. In a recent article entitled "Cannabis legalization and equity in Canada," he stated, SA国际影视传媒渕inor cannabis offences can also serve as a 'gateway' into the criminal justice system for people who become 'known to police,' which increasing their chances of further criminalization and social marginalization.SA国际影视传媒�

Harm reduction

SaahSA国际影视传媒檚 main goal during this time of cannabis legalization is harm reduction, meaning learning about cannabis and its effects, safer ways of using it and educating people on what is permitted and not permitted in the legal framework.

People using cannabis now and buying it from an illicit source, get little to no information about what they are consuming. This is of particular concern in regards to the THC content of cannabis (the psychoactive ingredient that produces the high).

In terms of retail outlets, specifically that sell alcohol and cannabis at the same location SA国际影视传媒� which will be the case in Yellowknife SA国际影视传媒� Saah said it's a controversial issue in public health.

"People think separate is better, but we donSA国际影视传媒檛 have a lot of good research on the effects when alcohol and cannabis are sold together," she said. "It is assumed that it will encourage co-use of the substance, and in Ontario they have gone for separate state outlets. There are dissenting opinions in the public health research community SA国际影视传媒� some people donSA国际影视传媒檛 think itSA国际影视传媒檚 a problem, but some do.SA国际影视传媒�

Consumption methods of cannabis include smoking, vaporizing, infused edibles and sublingual products, which is the application of the product under your tongue. From a harm reduction perspective, vaporizing is a safer mode of use than smoking because there is less risk of lung irritation and respiratory problems.

SA国际影视传媒�Edibles canSA国际影视传媒檛 be bought from a store. The federal government has been cautious about not including them in the current framework because initially when legalization rolled out in Colorado this created problems for with inexperienced users and accidental paediatric ingestions because they allowed for candy," she said.

SA国际影视传媒�ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a place of education and itSA国际影视传媒檚 the same practice we use for alcohol. We keep it out of the hands of children, and take precautions in the household.SA国际影视传媒�

Youth and cannabis

The Canadian Cannabis survey states that young people are the predominate users of cannabis.

SA国际影视传媒�I wish we were as concerned about the impact of poverty, violence and early childhood trauma on the teenage brain as we are about cannabis and youth usage,SA国际影视传媒� said Saah. "There is a need for public education surrounding the implications of cannabis use by young adults."

Saah said a better question to ask surrounding early youth usage is, SA国际影视传媒渨hatSA国际影视传媒檚 going on in these kidsSA国际影视传媒� context that theySA国际影视传媒檙e starting these substances at 13?

"There are probably other risk factors that are wrapping around them. I would like to see more ways to strengthen teen resiliency in family and community rather than a focus on cannabis per se. I think making cannabis legal will open up the conversation for youth, not overnight but overtime and erode the traction that the illicit market has.SA国际影视传媒�

As a public health researcher Saah believes the best way to educate youth on cannabis legalization and health implications is face-to-face interaction and open discussion.

"I think itSA国际影视传媒檚 not so much about getting the health facts accurate as it is about having an open mind and talking to young people about what they see as the benefits and risks. This is what we do with sexual education and to protect against unwanted pregnancy or talking about consent. Think about our model for sexual education and could we do the same thing around cannabis?SA国际影视传媒�