Rosenberg, We are writing on behalf of the Drug Therapy Committee of the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) to strongly urge you to uphold the primary policy objectives of the Cannabis Act by firmly prioritizing the health and safety of children within the final report of the legislative review. [...] Even with both the current limit of 10 mg of TCH per edible package as well as the plain and child- resistant packaging restrictions, rigorous, peer-reviewed, population-based health services research has demonstrated a significant association between the legalization of edible cannabis products and unintentional cannabis poisonings (requiring ED visits and hospitalization) in children 0 to 9 ye [...] The WWHR included industry-led calls to decrease product packaging restrictions and increase avenues for product promotion of legal cannabis products in Canada. [...] The suggestion that a dangerous substance should be made both more accessible and more appealing to everyone, including children, flies in the face of years of successful public health policy, as codified in the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, considered the global standard for policy coherence in managing risks associated with unhealthy commodity industrie [...] Even if this detail was included in the child’s medical chart, industry would not have access to this information, as it is protected by provincial health privacy laws. Data to support theindustry’s claim simply does not exist and this claim should not be part of any deliberations moving forward. [...] Recent peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated alarming outcomes, with a substantial number of children experiencing intoxication and severe neurological or respiratory complications following exposure to THC.6 The current upper limit of THC in a single cannabis product package in Canada is 10mg. [...] Recommendation 3: Reframe the problem of paediatric exposure to cannabis products to ensure that risks to both young children and adolescents are highlighted. [...] Recent evidence from Canada indicates that cannabis has become the leading cause of hospital admissions for poisoning in children 0-9 years across the country, surpassing all other common substances.8 Similar trends have been observed in the United States, including increasing severity of toxicity and critical care admissions.9 Therefore, framing the health risks as "youth-specific" does not a [...] This legislative review must ensure that the comprehensive dangers associated with cannabis products are more clearly communicated to all Canadians, especially as they relate to children and young Canadians. We advocate for scaled-up investments in pediatric-friendly, accessible, informative, and culturally appropriate public education about cannabis use by children and adolescents, specifical [...] In summary, the evidence indicates that the Cannabis Act has not fully realized its original public policy objectives, and has overlooked significant health hazards, particularly to Canadian children.
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