In Season 2, Episode 4 of the Unnecessary Harm Podcast, host Shane Varcoe interviews Canadian activist Pam McColl about the impacts of cannabis legalisation in Canada five years on. The episode provides a critical examination of the policy change and its consequences.

Don’t miss this chance to hear from a seasoned advocate who has been on the front lines of the cannabis debate. Whether you’re a policymaker, healthcare professional, concerned parent, or simply interested in understanding the complexities of drug policy, this episode is a must-listen.

Head over to the Unnecessary Harm Podcast and tune in now. Prepare to challenge your assumptions and gain a new perspective on one of the most contentious public health issues of our time. The truth about Canada’s cannabis experiment awaits – are you ready to hear it?

Key Points

1. Background on Pam McColl: Pam McColl is introduced as a Vancouver-based educator, activist, and author with a long history of opposing cannabis legalisation in Canada. Her background in tobacco prevention significantly influenced her stance on cannabis policy. McColl gained international attention for her work in tobacco prevention, particularly for her efforts to remove the pipe from Santa Claus in the famous poem “The Night Before Christmas” in 2012. This action garnered widespread media coverage and established her as a prominent figure in public health advocacy. McColl’s transition to cannabis policy activism was sparked by her realisation that the cannabis industry was following a similar trajectory to the tobacco industry, which she had fought against for years.
2. Pre-Legalisation Advocacy: The podcast delves into McColl’s extensive efforts to prevent cannabis legalisation in Canada. She describes her involvement in organising events with prominent figures like Patrick Kennedy and working with ABC Australia on a documentary called “Cannabis Inc.” McColl’s advocacy included writing speeches for members of parliament, recommending expert speakers to testify before government committees, and directly engaging with politicians and policymakers. She faced significant challenges and pushback from pro-legalisation forces, including personal attacks and threats that required law enforcement intervention. Despite these obstacles, McColl remained committed to her cause, compiling extensive research and documentation to support her position against legalisation.
3. Criticism of the Legalisation Process: McColl provides a scathing critique of the cannabis legalisation process in Canada. She recounts a particularly troubling incident where she was invited to testify for six hours before a government committee, including several ministers and the head of Health Canada. Despite presenting extensive documentation and arguments against legalisation, McColl was informed by the former Minister of Health, who chaired the task force on cannabis legalisation, that the entire meeting had been sealed and would never be made public. This action effectively silenced her testimony and prevented it from influencing the public discourse or policy decisions. McColl views this as a clear example of how critical voices were systematically silenced or ignored during the legalisation process, raising serious concerns about the transparency and fairness of the policy-making procedure.
4. Post-Legalisation Observations: In discussing the aftermath of cannabis legalisation in Canada, McColl highlights several negative impacts. She notes that cannabis has become ubiquitous, with its presence felt on every street and even in hospitals. McColl expresses particular concern about the erosion of safeguards that were initially put in place during legalisation. She points out that many of the provisions advocates like herself fought to include, such as restrictions on signage, warning labels, packaging, and advertising, have been gradually removed or weakened. This erosion of protective measures, according to McColl, has occurred largely because public attention has waned since legalisation, allowing the cannabis industry to lobby for reduced regulations without significant opposition.
5. Five-Year Review: The podcast examines the recent five-year review of Canada’s cannabis policy, highlighting some of its recommendations. These include setting targets for reducing youth and young adult cannabis use, increasing efforts to inform the public about risks to children from accidental exposure, and developing evidence-based school prevention programs. McColl argues that while these recommendations acknowledge some issues, they fall short of addressing the full extent of problems created by legislation. She expresses frustration at the apparent cognitive dissonance in the review, noting that many of the issues now being recognised were raised by advocates like herself before legalisation but were ignored at the time.
6. Scientific Research and Medical Claims: McColl emphasises the lack of solid scientific evidence supporting medical claims about cannabis. She cites that there have been 11,000 studies on marijuana to date, costing $4.3 billion, yet the FDA has not approved it for any medical condition. McColl argues that despite this extensive research, cannabis will never be a legitimate medicine in its plant form due to its complex composition of over 400 components. She differentiates between isolated cannabinoid medications like Epidiolex, which have gone through proper pharmaceutical trials, and the broader claims made about medical marijuana. McColl contends that the idea of marijuana as a medicine is fundamentally flawed and that continued calls for more research are disingenuous given the extensive studies already conducted.
7. Public Health Concerns: The conversation highlights various public health concerns associated with cannabis use. McColl discusses the potential risks to reproductive health, particularly for men who wish to father children and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. She mentions the increased risk of heart issues and stroke, as well as the potential for addiction. McColl expresses particular concern about the impact on older adults who may be using cannabis for sleep or pain management without fully understanding the risks, especially when combined with alcohol or other medications. She emphasises the need for better public education about these health risks, noting that many users may be unaware of the potential consequences of their cannabis use.
8. Policy Recommendations: McColl advocates for implementing a REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) program for cannabis, similar to how other high-risk medications like thalidomide are managed. This would involve strict protocols for prescribing and monitoring cannabis use, including screening for mental health issues, substance abuse history, cardiovascular health, and reproductive concerns. Under this system, all men using cannabis would be counselled to use condoms, and women would be informed about the risks during pregnancy. Users would be tracked and data collected on their outcomes. McColl argues that this approach would allow for medical use of cannabis while ensuring proper safeguards and generating valuable data on its effects.
9. Cultural Impact: The podcast touches on the broader cultural implications of cannabis legalisation, with McColl framing it as part of a larger societal divide. She describes a “cannabis culture” that positions itself against authority, science, and established norms. McColl sees this as contributing to a wider societal polarisation, with the pro-cannabis movement often adopting an “us versus them” mentality. She expresses concern about how this divisiveness has affected public discourse and made it difficult to have rational debates about drug policy. McColl hopes for a cultural shift that will allow for more balanced and evidence-based discussions about cannabis and its place in society.
10. Prevention vs. Harm Reduction: The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of prevention strategies over harm reduction approaches. Using the analogy of a fence at the top of a cliff versus an ambulance at the bottom, McColl strongly advocates for preventive measures. She argues that relying solely on educating children about the risks of cannabis is insufficient and unfair, as it places too much responsibility on young people to resist powerful marketing forces and societal pressures. Instead, McColl calls for adults to take a more active role in protecting youth by implementing stronger preventive policies and regulations. She emphasises the need for a comprehensive approach that prioritises preventing cannabis use and associated harms rather than simply managing the consequences after the fact.

Throughout the interview, McColl provides a critical perspective on cannabis legalisation in Canada, drawing from her extensive experience in advocacy and policy work. The podcast offers listeners insights into the challenges and controversies surrounding cannabis policy, highlighting the complex interplay between public health, politics, and industry interests. This episode of the Unnecessary Harm Podcast serves as a valuable resource for those interested in understanding the ongoing debates around cannabis legalisation and its impacts on society.