Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch: Strategic Policy Directorate
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About
The Strategic Policy Directorate is in the Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch. Its mandate is to support the government’s commitment to legalize and strictly regulate cannabis, including:
- engaging with partners and stakeholders
- developing evidence-based public education
- conducting research and surveillance on the public health impacts of cannabis
- setting policy direction and regulatory and legislative requirements to reduce public health and public safety risks associated with cannabis
Responsibilities
The directorate is responsible for:
- public education, awareness and stakeholder engagement
- analysing and developing of legislative and regulatory requirements for cannabis
- supporting cannabis directorates in meeting corporate reporting requirements and integrating policy analysis
- conducting and enabling research, performing public health surveillance and monitoring, and providing scientific advice
- administrating regulatory requirements, respecting non-therapeutic research on cannabis, cost recovery and industry reporting under the Cannabis Tracking System
In carrying out its responsibilities, the directorate engages with:
- federal partners
- the regulated cannabis industry
- public health experts and organizations
- researchers and research communities
- public safety and law enforcement organizations
- Indigenous leaders, organizations and communities
- provincial and territorial governments and municipalities
Directorate and functions
The directorate’s organizational structure includes the following units.
Director General’s Office
The Director General’s Office manages and oversees the work of the directorate. The office:
- ensures government-wide policy coherence across the Government of Canada
- briefs the minister, Cabinet and Parliament on proposed program changes and progress in implementing the Cannabis Act
- serves as a key liaison with stakeholders, including other government departments and levels of government, international counterparts, and industry
External Relations Division
The External Relations Division provides strategic engagement advice to build and maintain relationships with national stakeholders, including:
- industry associations
- international counterparts
- other government departments
- provincial and territorial partners
- external programs and institutions
It also closely monitors and reports on policy issues, emerging challenges, and trends in other jurisdictions. The division also plans and develops content on cannabis public education initiatives.
Indigenous Affairs Division
The Indigenous Affairs Division:
- leads outreach and engagement with Indigenous communities and organizations
- builds and maintains relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations
- develops and coordinates policy to support Indigenous interests in relation to cannabis
Office of Cannabis Science and Surveillance
The Office of Cannabis Science and Surveillance leads and contributes to cannabis science and surveillance activities, including:
- pharmacovigilance
- providing scientific advice
- developing cannabis standards
- supporting public education and awareness
- conducting risk assessments and risk communications
- conducting scientific review of applications for non-therapeutic research on cannabis
The office also conducts, coordinates and supports public opinion research and scientific research on cannabis, and monitors the public health impacts of legalization.
Regulatory and Economic Affairs Division
The Regulatory and Economic Affairs Division:
- conducts cost-benefit analysis
- oversees the cost recovery regime
- oversees, analyzes and provides advice on market developments
- develops and interprets the legislative and regulatory framework for cannabis
- tracks and reports on the overall movement of cannabis in Canada through the Cannabis Tracking System
Strategic Policy Division
The Strategic Policy Division leads, coordinates and provides overall support and advice to the program on:
- risk management
- program performance
- audits and evaluations
- sex and gender-based analysis
- cabinet and parliamentary affairs
- strategic planning and priority-setting
- corporate planning and reporting requirements
Contact us
Email: cannabis.consultation@hc-sc.gc.ca
For cannabis industry: Cannabis and industrial hemp contact information for licence holders, applicants and industry