New Government, New Opportunity: FAIR Cannabis Calls on PM Mark Carney to Fix Canada's Broken Cannabis System

FAIR Cannabis congratulates Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Liberal Party of Canada on their election victory. With a new mandate and fresh momentum, the incoming government has an opportunity — and a responsibility — to finally fix the flawed cannabis system that has left so many Canadians behind.

FAIR Cannabis calls for urgent action to address the serious policy failures that have held Canada's cannabis system back since legalization.

Canada made history by legalizing cannabis in 2018, but many of the promises of legalization remain unfulfilled. Instead of creating an inclusive, thriving cannabis landscape, the system is still burdened by excessive taxes, unfair business barriers, stigma against medical cannabis patients and regular users, and a lack of support for community-based harm reduction programs. It's time for real leadership to fix what’s broken.

Key Priorities for Immediate Cannabis Reform

1. End Punishing Cannabis Taxes

The current excise tax model has crushed small businesses and discouraged innovation. FAIR Cannabis calls for the immediate elimination of the $1 per gram excise tax and the adoption of a fair, percentage-based model to allow the industry to survive and grow.

2. Legalize Cannabis Lounges and Community Spaces

Cannabis consumers deserve the same freedoms enjoyed by alcohol users. Canada must allow regulated spaces for responsible cannabis consumption, strengthening culture, tourism, and community connection.

3. Protect Medical Cannabis Patients

Medical cannabis users continue to face high taxes, social stigma, and the threat of unfair drug testing policies. FAIR Cannabis demands the full protection of patient rights, including removing taxes on medical cannabis and ensuring patients are not punished for legally prescribed use.

4. Remove Barriers to Business

Legalization wasn’t meant to be a gated community. Barriers to entry for new businesses remain far too high. Canada needs policies that foster entrepreneurship — not regulations that favour only the largest corporations. Legacy participants who built this industry must be included, not excluded.

5. End Unfair Drug Testing

Too many Canadians are losing jobs, opportunities, and dignity because of outdated and unscientific drug testing rules that criminalize cannabis consumers — even when they’re not impaired. It’s time to come up with more scientific solutions for impairment testing. 

6. Embrace Cannabis as Harm Reduction

Cannabis saves lives. Cannabis substitution programs, proven to help reduce dependence on more dangerous substances, must be formally recognized and supported as public health tools. 

A New Path Forward

Prime Minister Carney now has the chance to do what the last government did not: fix this broken system and finally legalize cannabis the right way.

FAIR Cannabis emphasizes that true progress in cannabis reform must include respect for the diverse cannabis community — from legacy pioneers to licensed producers to everyday Canadians who simply want fair laws. We look forward to working with Prime Minister Carney's government to finally create a legal cannabis system that all Canadians can be proud of: one that is fair, inclusive, and sustainable.

Learn more about our campaigns at FAIRCannabis.ca, and TAKE ACTION today by signing our petitions and sending letters to MPs and Senators. Together, we can #LegalizeItRight!