What if the very way we study substances contributes to perpetuating certain prejudices? As Jean-Sébastien Fallu, a professor of psychoeducation, points out, the use of a psychoactive substance is not, in and of itself, synonymous with a problem or addiction. Yet research still focuses far more on problematic use than on ordinary, functional, or non-problematic use. And this approach to substances has an impact far beyond the scientific community: it can shape funding, interventions, public policy, and even the way society views users.

According to the latest data from Statistics Canada, agricultural revenue from cannabis rose from $94.8 million in 2016 to more than $3 billion in 2025, making it the fifth-largest crop in Canada. In Quebec, its importance is even greater, as it ranks as the third-largest crop in the province in terms of agricultural revenue.