Grant: Cat. Gr.: Pop. Health Interv. Res. on Legaliz. of Cannabis - FN/I/M and/or UIPop

There is an urgent need to systematically examine the potential challenges cannabis legalization may pose for diverse communities and explore how key provincial and community service authorities and policy stakeholders might optimize and coordinate their responses to protect the health of all Canadians. The proposed research adopts a multiple case study approach to systematically document provincial regulatory models for the implementation of cannabis policies, programs and practices, and the community concerns and intended strategies to adopt in response to the legalization of cannabis for non-medical use. Drawing on three distinct qualitative data sources (i.e., semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and policy documents), we will examine how a sample of provinces and Indigenous and racialized communities are viewing and responding to the impending cannabis regulatory frameworks and anticipated impacts. The provinces selected for this project are British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. Specific communities that we will engage within these provinces include Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) and racialized communities (African Canadian, South Asian, East Asian, and Latino) due to the disproportionate impact drug policies have historically had on these populations. This research will generate the evidence needed to inform the evolution of future cannabis policies and population health intervention research.