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The Cannabis Act Applies to all Mis-Used Substances

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction states that substance abuse cost the Canadian economy $49 billion in 2020. So I applauded the Canadian government for writing the Cannabis Act as it is designed to lower that expense by protecting us and our children from a mis-used substance. It is a very strong public health program.  Public health programs like wearing a bicycle helmets, or wearing seat belts, or driving sober, or safe consumption sites, these are all public health programs designed to lessen harms.  Everything is measured by dollars. So the goal is to decrease the expense of caring for each other in the future by ensuing less harm comes to us today.  Those are the principles of harm reduction. So the Cannabis Act is a harm reduction document that focuses specifically on Cannabis. It is a shame other mis-used substance do not follow that prescription too. For example, alcohol. No surprise. 40% of the expense of $49 billion was attributed alcohol. In 2020 alcohol cost the economy $19.7 billion. Now the government had $13 billion of revenue but that means we still have a $6 billion deficit on alcohol. Deloitte reports that since legalization of recreational Cannabis, the Canadian government averages about $5 billion of revenue a year. As a mis-used substance in 2020 Cannabis cost us 2.4 billion. So the Cannabis Act prevents us from evoking a positive image of Cannabis. But, as a Registered Nurse I cannot help but ponder how the Canadian economy would benefit if we simply swapped alcohol for cannabis. Now, the Canadian government says that 50% of our health outcomes are attributed socio-economic factors. For example, we know low that income earners find it difficult to afford whole foods. Conveniently made and highly refined processed foods are simply cheaper than raw whole foods. So we live in an economy where it is cheaper and easier for us to buy a prepared meal than make it for ourselves. What makes this very distressing is that these fast-food-focused industries are purposefully manipulating the salt, the sugar, and the fat content of these products to make them more addictive. Now the British Medical Journal reports 14% of adults are addicted to processed foods; 12% of our children are addicted to processed foods. Now I know I am focusing on foods, but I cannot help by equate them as mis-used substances because of the damage they are doing on population health.  We know processed foods is directly linked to obesity and we know obesity is directly linked to diabetes. So the Canadian Institute Health Information reports 28% of Canadians are considered obese; 1 in 10 Canadian children is considered obese. And we know a 2019 study says disabilities attributable to obesity, cost the Canadian economy $11 billion. The Public Health Agency of Canada stated that by 2022 diabetes would become a $15 billion expense. Now the Cannabis Act says we cannot promote products that are appealing children, nor can we make false, misleading, or deceptive testimonials, or comments about a person, a celebrity, a character, or an animal enjoying life through cannabis. Yet, I can walk down a super market aisle and be informed daily how highly refined processed cereals are allowing elite athletes to preform better.  I think the Cannabis Act is a very strong public health document. I would like to challenge the government to start applying some of the verbiage found in the Cannabis Act to other mis-used substance that we know are costing the Canadian economy so much more than cannabis. My name is Kirk Nyquist, I am a Registered Nurse and I believe Cannabis is mis-understood. If you want to learn more about Cannabis go to the Reefer Medness - The Podcast web page found at reefermed.ca. And learn more about Cannabis. You should really check us out.