The Quebec Hemp and Cannabis Industry Association (AQIC) is proud to submit this brief as part of your government's ongoing consultations in preparation for the 2025 Budget. This year's exercise is taking place in a context of great uncertainty due to a multitude of factors: inflation continues to affect Canadians, record deficits have been recorded in Canada and in several provinces and territories for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, global political instability, and threats from the United States.
In 2018, the federal government legalized cannabis for recreational use and sale with the aim of controlling the quality and sale of the product, reducing health risks, curbing the black market, and better informing citizens. Cannabis was already widely available, as the prohibitionist approach long favored by public authorities had proven counterproductive.
The Canadian hemp and cannabis sector has set its sights on becoming a leader in the production of quality products in North America. Today, we are faced with the very real specter of saturating our capacity to migrate consumers to the legal market. To ensure an economic transition that respects businesses and citizens while meeting market needs, Canada has no choice but to rethink its approach to cannabis production and distribution and opt for a pragmatic and diversified strategy to support the implementation of its public policy on industrial hemp and cannabis.
Legislative changes in several countries are transforming the hemp and cannabis market on the global stage, but the Canadian regulatory framework is hampering the ability of Canadian businesses to seize these opportunities and requires urgent reflection for the sustainability of our sector.
Chargement en cours...
