The High North

Book excerpt: The High North is a groundbreaking collection of essays that shakes up widely accepted narratives about marijuana legalization in Canada. In 2018, Canada became only the second country in the world to legalize cannabis. Once shunned, cannabis users are now eagerly courted as customers. What has cannabis legalization meant for the general public, governments, and the Canadian legal system? The contributors, cannabis scholars and “practitioners,” activists and advocates, examine public policy on cannabis, analyze consumer perceptions, and recount the history of the legalization movement. From the first appearance of cannabis in Canada and the advent of current-day dispensaries, to the mental health implications of legal weed and the plight of workers in the cannabis economy, The High North offers a comprehensive critique of the many aspects of legalization. To quote the Grateful Dead: “What a Long Strange Trip It’s Been.”