Last Week in Cannabis #15
Last Week in Cannabis
September 7–13, 2026 | Issue #15
Hey friend — welcome back to Last Week in Cannabis. A major Canadian research study dropped this week that deserves a proper look, and there is an interesting science story on cannabis beverages that is relevant to a lot of people. Let's get into it.
1. CANADA — The Biggest Review of Cannabis Legalization and Substance Use Ever Published Just Came Out
Researchers at McGill University published a landmark systematic review this week in The Milbank Quarterly — pulling together evidence from 176 studies conducted over 30 years across Canada, the United States, Europe, Uruguay, and Australia. It is one of the most comprehensive assessments ever undertaken of how cannabis legalization affects substance use and public health.
The findings are nuanced. Cannabis use increased among young adults and adults following both medical and recreational legalization. Cannabis-related emergency department visits also increased in some jurisdictions. At the same time, most studies found no change or a decrease in opioid-related outcomes following legalization. Alcohol use showed a complex picture — potential decreases following medical legalization, but potential increases among young adults following recreational legalization.
Mary Jane's Take: This is exactly the kind of research the cannabis conversation needs — honest, comprehensive, and willing to hold complexity. The results are not a simple thumbs up or thumbs down for legalization. Cannabis use goes up when it becomes legal. That is not surprising. What matters is what happens to overall substance use and public health. The opioid picture is genuinely encouraging — most studies found no increase and some found decreases. The alcohol picture is more complicated and deserves ongoing attention. The researchers themselves put it well: legalization has ripple effects on other substances, sometimes in ways that reduce harm and sometimes in ways that raise new concerns. That is exactly the kind of honest framing cannabis policy should be built on.
2. CANADA — High Tide Is About to Hit 232 Stores
High Tide Inc. announced this week that it expects to open three new Canna Cabana locations over a four-day period in Lindsay and Orléans, Ontario, and Regina, Saskatchewan — pending regulatory approval. Once open, that will bring High Tide's Canadian store count to 232, including 105 locations in Ontario and 14 in Saskatchewan. The company says it has 15 more locations at various stages of development.
Mary Jane's Take: High Tide has been one of the most consistent retail growth stories in Canadian cannabis. Reaching 232 stores nationally is a meaningful milestone — it puts them in a different category from most Canadian cannabis retailers in terms of national footprint and purchasing scale. For consumers, more locations generally means more competitive pricing and more consistent product availability. For the industry, it signals that disciplined retail expansion is still viable even in a maturing market.
3. GLOBAL — Cannabis Beverages Are Helping People Drink Less Alcohol
A University at Buffalo study published this week found that people who consume cannabis-infused beverages reported cutting their weekly alcohol intake roughly in half — from an average of 7 drinks per week down to 3.35. Nearly two-thirds of cannabis beverage users in the survey said they had either reduced or stopped drinking alcohol after starting cannabis drinks. Researchers noted that the familiar social experience of holding a canned drink may make cannabis beverages an easier substitute than other cannabis formats.
Mary Jane's Take: This is one of the more practically interesting pieces of cannabis research to come out recently. Alcohol carries significant health risks — far more documented harm than cannabis at equivalent use levels — and for people looking to reduce their intake, cannabis beverages offer something that other cannabis formats do not: a familiar social ritual. You can hold a can, sit at a patio, be part of a social moment, and not feel out of place. That matters more than people might think. These are early findings from a relatively small study, so drawing firm conclusions would be premature. But the direction is consistent across several independent studies, and it points to cannabis beverages as a genuinely meaningful harm reduction option for some people.
4. GLOBAL — A New Study Found Women Are More Likely to Substitute Cannabis for Antidepressants After Legalization
Research published this week found that women in jurisdictions with legal cannabis were more likely than men to substitute cannabis for antidepressants following legalization — a pattern researchers described as significant and warranting further study given the different ways cannabis affects men and women biologically.
Mary Jane's Take: Antidepressant use is widespread and carries its own set of side effects and dependency considerations. The finding that women in particular are more likely to turn to cannabis as an alternative is worth taking seriously — both because it reflects real patient behaviour and because it raises important questions. Cannabis is not a proven substitute for antidepressants in clinical terms, and anyone considering making that kind of change should be having that conversation with their doctor. What the research does tell us is that people — women especially — are making that choice regardless, which means the medical and cannabis communities need to be better prepared to have an informed, honest conversation about it.
That's your week — two from Canada, two from the global research world. See you next Monday.
— Mary Jane
