Support effort to learn more about impact of cannabis, researchers urge Ottawa
OTTAWA — The federal government needs to make research into the effects of pot a priority as Ottawa works to legalize and regulate marijuana by next July, a coalition of academics said Monday.
In an open letter, more than 50 researchers from across the country said policy-makers should support efforts to learn more about how marijuana affects its users, adding cannabis research has been limited by the long-standing criminalization of the drug.
“As a result, substantial knowledge gaps remain related to the potential consequences of legalized cannabis use,” the letter said.
Those who signed the letter include Dr. Mark Ware, an assistant professor at McGill University who served as vice-chair on a federally appointed task force on marijuana.