Beyond prohibition: The legalization of cannabis in Canada

Wesley, Jared J.

doi:10.1111/capa.12348

Cited by 10 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…In contrast, Quierolo et al (2019) attribute cannabis policy reform in Uruguay to the support received from crucial political elites within government. Similarly, Wesley (2019) draws attention to the defining role played by political elites in creating a window of opportunity for eventual cannabis policy reform in Canada.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“We don’t have any answers within the current framework”: tensions within cannabis policy change in Ireland

Rálaigh

Morton

2021

DAT

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Purpose International policy approaches to cannabis production and use are changing rapidly, and within the Irish context, alternatives to prohibition are being considered. This study aims to explore policymaker’s attitudes towards the decriminalisation and legal regulation of cannabis for recreational use in the midst of an unfolding policy process, examining the degree which a “policy window” might be open for the implementation of cannabis policy change. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were held with eight key informants within the policy field in Dublin, Ireland. Kingdon’s (2014) Multiple Streams framework was used to consider whether the problems, policy and political streams were aligning to support progressive policy change. Findings Irish policymakers indicated broad support for the decriminalisation of cannabis. The legal regulation of cannabis received more qualified support. Existing policy was heavily criticised with criminalisation identified as a clear failure. Of particular interest was the willingness of policymakers to offer opinions which contrasted with the policy positions of their organisations. While a policy window did open – and close – subsequent governmental commitments to examine the issue of drugs policy in a more deliberative process in the near future highlight the incremental nature of policy change. Originality/value This study provides unique insight into the opinions of policymakers in the midst of a prolonged period of policy evolution. A latent aspiration for historical policy change was situated within the realpolitik of more traditional approaches to policy development, demonstrating that the alignment of Kingdon’s (2014) problem, policy and political streams are essential for change in cannabis policy.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“We don’t have any answers within the current framework”: tensions within cannabis policy change in Ireland

Rálaigh

Morton

2021

DAT

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“…Cannabis takes on collective meaning in this nationalistic dynamic, especially as the United States pushed back with threatened trade sanctions in the early 21 century and the Canadian government publicly back-peddled on legalization (Wesley, 2019a). Once finally underway, cannabis legalization moved at a remarkable speed, noted as “… one of the most complex and time-compressed exercises in national policymaking since the construction of the modern welfare state” (Wesley, 2019b).…”

Section: Canada Vice and State Formationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Enjoy your experience”: Symbolic violence and becoming a tasteful state cannabis consumer in Canada

Cormack

Cosgrave

2021

Journal of Consumer Culture

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This article explores the legalization and marketing of recreational cannabis in Canada, specifically the province of Nova Scotia, that has extended state monopoly over sales. Beginning with Howard Becker’s classic analysis of “becoming a marijuana user,” this ethnographic investigation of the first day of state cannabis sales utilizes and extends Bourdieusian analyses, particularly by showing how “symbolic violence” and “taste distinctions” work beyond overt class reproduction to establish state classifications and rituals. The practices we observe show state formation in action at the point of sale, including education, warning, prohibition, and promotion. As we demonstrate, the state marketing of cannabis works to invite emotional identification toward becoming the state consumer as an embodied habitus. The citizen is not just redeemed morally by the legal recategorization of cannabis but brought into a new subject position as good consumer citizen at the moment of ritual consumption, that is, brought into a “tasteful state.”

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“…Production remains under the purview of Health Canada, while the retail and distribution elements of the industry are regulated by provincial governments. The division of responsibilities between the federal and provincial governments is the natural outcome of Canada's federal structure and institutions (Wesley, 2019), though the limited indigenous participation in the process leaves some jurisdictional challenges to be addressed (Crosby, 2019). Four provinces use complete government monopoly over retail and distribution.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dimensions of competition in urban cannabis markets

Childs,

MacDonald

2023

Can Public Adm

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We report the results of a survey of legal cannabis retail operators in the two largest urban centres of a Canadian province that uses a fully private model to determine the dimensions of competition between retail outlets. We find that, in addition to expected price and location competition, customer loyalty is central in the opinion of retailers. Firms also did not see the illicit market as their primary competition, instead identifying nearby legal retailers as their main competitors. Restrictions on advertising loomed large in the minds of retailers as a policy‐based impediment to their success. These results are further supported by visual inspection of the exterior of all stores in one of the urban centres.

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Beyond prohibition: The legalization of cannabis in Canada

Cited by 10 publications

References 12 publications

“We don’t have any answers within the current framework”: tensions within cannabis policy change in Ireland

“We don’t have any answers within the current framework”: tensions within cannabis policy change in Ireland

“Enjoy your experience”: Symbolic violence and becoming a tasteful state cannabis consumer in Canada

Dimensions of competition in urban cannabis markets

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