Criminality and Inequity under Canada’s Legalization of Cannabis: A Study of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside

Abstract

The origin of this essay reminds us of the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to the development and assessment of public policy. It also demonstrates the serendipitous beginnings of many interesting inquiries. This collaboration was thus fortuitous: authors Lake and Young met during Lake’s doctoral dissertation defence. Young was on the examining committee. Lake presented a series of epidemiological studies (three of which are summarized below) involving the use of cannabis for therapeutic and harm reduction purposes among marginalized people who use drugs (PWUD) in Vancouver. Young’s lines of questioning involving the legal implications of Lake’s findings spurred the idea to formally outline the potential unintended health and legal consequences of inequitable access to legal cannabis among marginalized PWUD during an intensifying drug poisoning and overdose crisis. This chapter was born.

Note:
Funding Information: None to declare.

Declaration of Interests: None to declare.

Keywords: Cannabis, Legalization, Canada