National Release of Report on Marijuana by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse - Cannabis Regulation: Lessons Learned from Colorado and Washington State

MONTREAL, Nov. 13, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - On November 17, 2015, the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) will release its report, Cannabis Regulation: Lessons Learned from Colorado and Washington State, to help promote a national dialogue that will inform "made in Canada" policy options to minimize the potential negative health, social, economic and criminal justice impacts of marijuana use in Canada.

What: National release of report about marijuana regulation via news conference during CCSA's biennial, Issues of Substance (IOS) conference — Canada's largest gathering of professionals in the field of addiction.

With the purpose of collecting the best available information to support evidence-informed marijuana policy advice, CCSA led delegations to Colorado and Washington state in February and August 2015, about a year after retail sales of cannabis began in each jurisdiction. The delegations met with stakeholders from a range of perspectives, including public health, regulation, government, enforcement, prevention and the cannabis industry. Despite different perspectives, several common themes emerged, and these themes, as well as the lessons learned, will be shared during the news conference.

Speakers include:

• Rita Notarandrea, Chief Executive Officer, CCSA
• Rebecca Jesseman, Senior Policy Advisor, CCSA
• Jean-François Crépault, Senior Policy Analyst, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
• Ian Culbert, Executive Director, Canadian Public Health Association
• Paul Johnston, A/Superintendent, Ottawa Police Service, and Drug Abuse Committee Member, Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police

The report will be released right after the IOS conference session, Marijuana: Clearing the Smoke on Policy Options, a session that will provide an overview of legislative approaches to regulating marijuana. During the session, speakers will discuss the differences between decriminalization, legalization and commercialization of marijuana, and the various regulatory options and models within each category.

Where:	CCSA's biennial national conference, Issues of Substance 2015
	Room Fontaine E, Hotel Bonaventure, 900 Rue de la Gauchetière Ouest, Montreal
	Teleconference: dial 1-866-219-7782, participant code 781874.
When:	Tuesday, November 17, 2015
	10:30 a.m. (EST): journalists are invited to attend the session, Marijuana: Clearing the Smoke on Policy Options, taking place in the same room just before launch of the report
	11:45 a.m. (EST): news conference to release the report

Other IOS Conference Sessions on Marijuana and Additional Experts Available to Media

Session	Date, Time (EST)	Speaker/Expert
The Effects of Cannabis	Monday, November 17	Dr. Franco Vaccarino
Use During Adolescence	10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.	President and Professor of Psychology, University of
(ORAL A5)		Guelph, and Chair, CCSA's Scientific Advisory Council
		Dr. Selene Etches
		Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, IWK Health
		Centre, Assistant Professor, Department of
		Psychiatry, Dalhousie University
		Dr. Andra Smith
		Neuroscientist and Associate Professor, Department
		of Psychology, University of Ottawa
		Dr. Sherry Stewart
		Clinical Psychologist and Professor, Department of
		Psychiatry, and Department of Psychology and
		Neuroscience, Dalhousie University
Keynote Panel: What	Wednesday, November	Experts are available to speak to health, economic
Should the Canadian	18, 10:30 a.m.–12:15	and public safety impacts
Public Know About	p.m.
Marijuana? (Plenary 3)

SOURCE Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse

Media Requests and Registration, Media contacts: Theresa Woolridge (English), Lamia Charlebois (French). Media interviews can be arranged in advance of the conference by emailing [email protected] with your request or onsite by calling 514-279-4601. Media are also invited to attend Issues of Substance conference sessions and workshops. Advance RSVPs are appreciated and can be sent to [email protected]. Onsite, accredited media are to identify themselves at the registration desk to receive their media pass, which must be visible at all times.