Media Advisory - Launch of new public health guidelines to lower the health risks of cannabis use
Evidence-based recommendations are endorsed by several national organizations
TORONTO and OTTAWA, June 21, 2017 /CNW/ - Canada has one of the highest rates of cannabis use in the world – but cannabis use comes with a range of health risks.
A new set of guidelines aimed at lowering the health risks of cannabis use will be released on Friday, June 23, 2017, with the endorsement of key medical and public health organizations in Canada. The guidelines are based on a scientific review of the research on cannabis use by an international team of experts. In addition to the scientific paper, the guidelines are available as a public brochure for people who use cannabis, and as an evidence summary for health professionals.
As Canada moves towards legalization with the introduction of the federal Cannabis Act, it provides an opportunity not only to regulate the use and supply, but also to educate and inform people who use cannabis to prevent or reduce cannabis-related health problems.
| WHO: |
Dr. Benedikt Fischer – Senior Scientist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and Ontario Lead, Canadian Research Initiative into Substance Misuse (CRISM) |
| Dr. Laurent Marcoux – President-Elect, Canadian Medical Association (CMA) |
|
| Mr. Ian Culbert – Executive Director, Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) |
|
| Dr. David Allison – Chief Medical Officer of Health, Newfoundland and Labrador, |
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| WHEN: |
Friday, June 23, 2017 |
| WHERE: |
National Press Theatre |
The endorsing organizations are the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA), Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health (CCMOH) has endorsed the guidelines in principle.
About the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, as well as one of the world's leading research centres in its field. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development and health promotion to help transform the lives of people affected by mental health and addiction issues. CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre. For more information, please follow @CAMHnews or @CAMHResearch on Twitter.
SOURCE Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
or to arrange an interview please contact: Sean O'Malley, Media Relations, CAMH, 416-535-8501 x36663, [email protected]; Media Relations, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), 613-941-4563, [email protected]
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