After Health Canada provided funding to the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) in 2018 to explore the relationship between cannabis and mental health, one of the first steps was to conduct an environmental scan and scoping review. That review revealed a need to engage a broader range of communities in research, including those consisting of immigrant, refugee, ethnocultural, and racialized; First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people.
Building on the momentum of the CannXperience Hemp Education Symposium, we aim to broaden discussions highlighting the gaps in cannabis and mental health research, education, and policy.
Over the past five years, the MHCC has led a pan-Canadian research program to assess the impact of cannabis legalization and use on the mental health of diverse populations. This document synthesizes key themes that emerged from seven studies led by Indigenous organizations and communities exploring the relationship between cannabis and mental health among First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada.
Note: Beyond this synthesis, perceptions about cannabis and mental health vary across Indigenous communities, who possess distinct cultural beliefs and practices, language, and traditional knowledge, and live within unique historical, geographical, and socio-economic contexts.
Key findings:
- Perspectives on cannabis and its impact remain mixed.
- Many health priorities remain, including redressing health-care inequities.
- Cannabis use is intimately tied to past and present colonial impacts.
- Legalization has prompted unique governance issues.
- Cannabis has the potential to reduce harm.
- Connection to Métis culture and identity is essential.
- There is a strong case for self-determination and self-governance for Métis health-care, economies, and legalization.
