It has officially been five years since recreational cannabis use was legalized in Canada, and according to experts, it has been quite the journey.
Zach Walsh, professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, says he thinks during this time, the industry has lost some of the stigmas that were previously attached to it and has become more normalized in society.
“This is how we should be dealing with cannabis. Regulating it like any other product, but certainly not stigmatizing it, making it illegal.” Walsh added.
Walsh says the substance has positive impacts for those struggling with chronic pain and sleeping issues, and can even help people out of opioid addiction.
“Using cannabis can make it less likely that they use opioids every day. It can make it less likely that they are going to start injecting illicit opioids if they’re not already, it can help them to stay on opioid
