Medical Marijuana versus Opioid Epidemic
A large number of Canadians and Americans succumb to opioid epidemic every day. About 91 Americans die daily because of opioid-linked drug overdoses. There has been an increase of use and abuse of opioid drugs, and in 2016, Canada reported about 2,400 opioid-linked deaths. Following opioid-related deaths, it is clear that the use of opioids for pain management can lead to an addiction that can pose more damage on the use of the treatment. The drug’s harmful effects outweigh its benefits. Therefore, many interventions, like pharmaceuticals therapies have come to find a panacea for overdose prevention. However, embracing of pharmaceutical...
Bill S-5 in Canada Amends the Tobacco and Non-Smokers Health Act
The Canadian government has passed a sweeping overhaul of the country's tobacco laws, legislation that will formally legalize (and heavily regulate) vaping and give Health Canada the powers it needs to mandate plain packaging for cigarettes.The bill, S-5, is one of the most ambitious overhauls of the Tobacco Act in a generation. It enacts changes that have prompted vocal opposition from the country's largest tobacco companies — and their allies, like convenience store owners — who are steadfastly opposed to measures that will force them to remove their brands from cigarette and other tobacco packages. Highlights of the bill include:...