Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm not a regular member of this committee. In fact, it's been about six years since I was a member. However, I'm quite interested in this discussion, particularly around how medical cannabis has succeeded in allowing patients to take themselves off some other drugs.
Dr. Waisglass, you started to answer a question and were cut off. I want to come back to it, because it's actually the exact opposite of the discussion we're having. It's on this whole idea of cannabis as a gateway drug. During debate in Parliament, we heard it described as such by no fewer than three members of Parliament—Mr. Gourde, Mr. Deltell and Mr. Dreeshen.
To Dr. Waisglass first, and then Dr. Shackelford, what does the literature say with respect to cannabis as a gateway drug? What has been your experience in that regard?