Canadian addictions centre speaks out in favour of marijuana legalization

A prominent Canadian addictions centre has come out in favour of the legalization and government sale of marijuana, adding their voice to a growing chorus that prohibition has been an expensive failure.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health argued Thursday that marijuana is not “benign” but said also that criminalization was counter-productive.

“Based on a thorough review of the evidence, we believe that legalization combined with strict regulation of cannabis is the most effective means of reducing the harms associated with its use,” Dr. Jurgen Rehm, director of the social and epidemiological research department at CAMH, said in a statement.

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