Forum of Experts on Regulation of Cannabis in Québec

Arrival of participants

Word of welcome

Current Knowledge of Cannabis: Use, Impacts and Risks

Presentation by D^r Réal Morin

• D^r Réal Morin, Physician specialized in Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Institut national de santé publique du Québec

Presentation by Mohamed Ben Amar and D^r Mark Ware

• Mohamed Ben Amar, Pharmacologist and Researcher, Faculty of Permanent Education, Université de Montréal
• D^r Mark Ware, Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Department of Anesthesiology, McGill University

Cannabis and Public Opinion

Presentation by Joëlle Courtemanche-Brochu, Christelle Féthière and François Gagnon

• Joëlle Courtemanche-Brochu, Road Safety Advisor, Office of the Vice-President, Public Affairs and Prevention Strategies, Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec
• Christelle Féthière, Project Officer, Association pour la santé publique du Québec
• François Gagnon, Scientific Advisor, Institut national de santé publique du Québec

Break

Information, Awareness, Prevention and Mitigation of Harmful Effects from Cannabis Use

Presentation by Jean-Sébastien Fallu and D^r Didier Jutras-Aswad

• Jean-Sébastien Fallu, Associate Professor and Researcher, Université de Montréal
• D^r Didier Jutras-Aswad, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal

Towards a Cannabis Control Model Based on Health and Safety

Presentation by Steve Rolles

• Steve Rolles, Analyst, Transform Drug Policy Foundation, United Kingdom

The Experience of States that have Legalized Cannabis

Presentation by Augusto Vitale

• Tamar Todd, Policy Director, Drug Policy Alliance (video presentation)
• Augusto Vitale, Expert in the field of cannabis market control and regulation in Uruguay, Professor and Associate Researcher at the Latin American Council of Social Sciences

Closing speech

Arrival of participants

Word of welcome

Small group workshops:

A. Road safety

Legalization of cannabis raises questions about road safety, the ability to screen for drivers under the influence of cannabis, and prevention. What activities must be deployed and what road safety targets should we aim for in the context of legalized cannabis?

Host: Clément Robitaille, Director of fight against crime, ministère de la Sécurité publique

Panelists:

• Pierre-André Dubé, Pharmacist and Toxicologist, Institut national de santé publique du Québec
• Mario Harel, Director, Gatineau Police, and President, Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police
• Lyne Vézina, Director, Office of the Vice-President, Public Affairs and Prevention Strategy, Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec

B. Promotion of health, prevention, mitigation of harmful effects and action on cannabis-related social norms

The regulation of cannabis focused on public health and safety goals will be introduced within the broader perspective of health promotion. What must be done to minimize the risk to individual health, mitigate the harmful effects, carry out effective prevention and act on social norms for cannabis?

Host: D^r Horacio Arruda, Director of Public Health, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux

Panelists:

• Pierre Brisson, Guest Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke
• D^r Réal Morin, Physician Specialist in Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Institut national de santé publique du Québec

C. Tax and income tax system

A tax and income tax system will be required once cannabis becomes legal. What tax and income tax measures should be established to help meet public health and safety goals?

Host: Étienne Paré, Managing director of the Optimization of Revenue and Local and Native Politics, ministère des Finances du Québec

Panelists:

• Marc Grandisson, Assistant Deputy Minister of Tax Law, Optimization of Revenue and Local and Native Politics, ministère des Finances du Québec
• Gerald Thomas, Director, Alcohol & Gambling Policy, Ministry of Health, British Columbia

D. Cannabis production and quality control model in Québec

One of the goals underlying the legalization of cannabis is to control substance quality, especially tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), pesticide and contaminant content. What can be done in Québec to ensure quality control and traceability of the substance?

Host : Djiby Bocar Sall, Coordinating Secretary, Grain Sector, Scientific and Technological Innovation Department, ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation

Panelists:

• Mike DeVillaer, Analyst, Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, and Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neuroscience, McMaster University
• François Gagnon, Scientific Advisor, Institut national de santé publique du Québec
• Margaret Sears, Scientist, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Break

Small group workshops:

E. Harmonization proposals for medical and recreational use of cannabis

The workshop will examine specific issues such as regulation, medical practice and patient well-being in connection with the legalization of recreational use in a context where the use of cannabis for medical purposes is already permitted. What measures should be established to insure a framework to harmonize medical and recreational use of cannabis?

Host: D^r David Martin Milot, Resident, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Montéregie Public Health Department, Montérégie-Centre Integrated Health and Social Services Centre

Panelists:

• D^r Richard Bélanger, Researcher, Research Centre of the Centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) de Québec, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Pediatric and Physician Specialist in Adolescence, Centre mère-enfant Soleil du CHU de Québec
• D^r Claude Cyr, Physician, La Cité médicale
• D^r Mark Ware, Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Department of Anesthesiology, McGill University

F. Distribution and sale: Core elements of a balanced supply within a Québec model based on health and safety

The models for distribution (from production site to sale site) and sale of cannabis in Québec will be guided by public health and safety goals. Which distribution and sale models will allow these goals to be met?

Host: D^r Horacio Arruda, Director of Public Health, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux

Panelists:

• Line Beauchesne, Full Professor, Department of Criminology, University of Ottawa, and Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Université de Sherbrooke
• Maude Chapados, Scientific Advisor, Institut national de santé publique du Québec
• Philippe Hurteau, Associate Researcher, Institut de recherche et d’information socioéconomique (IRIS)
• D^r Didier Jutras-Aswad, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal

G. Workplace health and safety and associated legal challenges

The legalization of cannabis has raised concerns regarding the workplace and the associated legal challenges. How can Québec address these challenges?

Host: Daniel Villeneuve, Occupational Health Program Coordinator, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux

Panelists:

• Candide Beaumont, Clinical Director, Association des intervenants en dépendance du Québec
• M^e Dominique Lebeuf,  Lawyer and Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP), Centre patronal de santé et sécurité du travail du Québec

H. Prevention of trafficking and regulatory compliance

Compliance with cannabis control regulations is one of the cornerstones of successful legalization. What must be done to take effective action against trafficking and ensure compliance with regulations governing production, distribution and sale of cannabis, all of which are currently controlled by criminal groups?

Host: Clément Robitaille, Director of Fight Against Crime, ministère de la Sécurité publique

Panelists:

• Guillermo Aureano, Guest Lecturer, Department of Political Science, Université de Montréal
• Serge Brochu, Associate Professor, School of Criminology, Université de Montréal

Lunch (not provided)

Restaurant services are available near the Conference Centre.

Road safety

Promotion of health, prevention, mitigation of harmful effects and action on cannabis-related social norms

Tax and income tax system

Cannabis production and quality control model in Québec

Question period

Break

Harmonization proposals for medical and recreational use of cannabis

Distribution and sale: Core elements of a balanced supply within a Québec model based on health and safety

Workplace health and safety and the associated legal challenges

Prevention of trafficking and regulatory compliance

Question period

Closing speech