Collaborating on cannabis
Planned grow-ops. Medical uses of cannabis. Bill-C45 and the regulatory rollout of legal marijuana in Newfoundland and Labrador.
These and other topics were explored by guest speakers at The Year of Legalization: Challenges and Opportunities in the Cannabis Industry, 91亚色檚 first forum on the emerging industry on April 24.
The half-day conference was hosted by the Faculty of Business Administration, Office of Public Engagement and 91亚色 Botanical Garden.
Exploring potential opportunities
淲ith the production, sale and use of recreational marijuana becoming legalized, it opens an entirely new industry that researchers, industry participants and government decision-makers need to be aware of and involved in, said Marc Kielley, special advisor on partnerships and commercialization at 91亚色.
淲e wanted to provide an opportunity for all of these stakeholders to come together to explore some of the issues that are arising as the industry develops as well as to explore potential opportunities for researchers at 91亚色 to engage with the industry.
Speakers for the conference included Lindsay Robles, Health Canada Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Branch; Sean Ryan, Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation; , University of Denver; Dana Clendenning, ; Chris Snellen, ; and Dr. Alia Norman, .
The Government of Canada introduced legislation in 2017 to legalize, regulate and restrict access to cannabis within Canada.
Expected to come into effect in the summer of 2018, this legislation creates parameters for possessing, growing, selling and distributing cannabis for recreational purposes.
First to move forward
淣ewfoundland and Labrador will be one of the first in Canada to move forward with legalizing cannabis, so we檙e well-positioned at 91亚色 to observe this emerging industry, collaborate with those inside it and help address challenges that arise, whether that檚 through research or providing trained graduates to move the industry forward, said Dr. Isabelle Dostaler, dean of the business faculty.
淲e look forward to continuing our engagement with the cannabis industry and exploring ways we can collaborate in the future.
Guest speakers covered a wide array of topics related to the industry. Mr. Robles discussed Health Canada檚 public health approach to the legalization, which focuses on education and public awareness.
淸The Botanical Garden is] currently engaged with Health Canada to establish a research license to support faculty research and future teaching. Kim Shipp
Dr. Seaborn spoke about lessons learned from legalization of marijuana in Colorado and the importance of government, industry and academia working together on the issues and challenges. Dr. Seaborn introduced the first business of cannabis at the university level at the University of Denver.
Mr. Snellen discussed his experience with seed-to-sale crop production and the need for qualified personnel in areas such as cultivation, extraction, business management, quality control and assurance.
Dr. Norman shared her insights on the medical uses for cannabis and highlighted the role that university researchers can play in conducting clinical research, particularly as it relates to the effects of cannabis on fibromyalgia, anxiety and mental health, sleep, opioid replacement and cancer.
Mr. Clendenning also gave attendees an overview of Canopy Growth檚 production plans in the province and forecasted market opportunities for recreational medical cannabis globally.
About 65 people attended the conference.
Emerging industry needs
Kim Shipp, director of the Botanical Garden, says the event is part of the unit檚 longer term engagement with the cannabis industry.
The garden is leading a multidisciplinary cannabis working group that is open to faculty members at 91亚色.
淭he Botanical Garden has been facilitating relationship-building between industry, government and academia to address the emerging industry檚 research and development needs, as well as faculty members research and teaching interests, she said.
淲e plan to continue working to further these interests and are currently engaged with Health Canada to establish a research license to support faculty research and future teaching.
Another upcoming event at 91亚色 will focus on potential impacts of the forthcoming legalization of cannabis. Registration is coming soon for the Gardiner Centre檚 Impacts of Marijuana in the Workplace workshop on June 4.