Ryan Schmelzle

Advocacy for measures to reduce the federal regulatory burden and streamline administrative processes for the legal cannabis sector to improve efficiency and support economic competitiveness. Advocating for a stronger role for federal economic development ministries (e.g., Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada or Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) in shaping cannabis policy and programs. The goal is to ensure the sector is integrated into national agriculture and industrial strategies, enabling access to innovation funding, export development programs, and regional economic growth initiatives. This includes modernizing policies to support competitiveness, sustainability, and international trade opportunities for the cannabis industry. Advocacy related to fair competition in the legal cannabis sector, including efforts to support balanced market rules and to prevent undue concentration. Advocacy related to the need to develop a national cannabis export strategy Advocacy for enhanced consumer education and improved packaging and labeling regulations to support informed purchasing, promote safety, and strengthen the legal cannabis market. Advocacy for revising THC limits on cannabis edibles to align with consumer demand and global standards, reducing the appeal of unregulated products and strengthening the legal market. Advocacy for changes to Canada's cannabis excise tax framework to support industry competitiveness, reduce the illicit market, and enhance public policy objectives of legalization. Representations to government, Parliamentarians, and public servants regarding cannabis legalization, regulation, policy development, and program initiatives in Canada.

Policies aimed at reinforcing pharmaceutical supply chain. Discussion regarding the launch of new branded product in the rare disease space Improvements to the supports offered by the federal government to support R&D; in particular, generic drug research and development. Seeking support from the Strategic Innovation Fund Program for support of biomanufacturing expansion project. Policies aimed at facilitating generic drug repurposing. Discussion on the opioid crisis and the Health minister's expectations from pharmaceutical manufacturers Discussion of regulatory impediments to the launch of pediatric formulations of branded and generic products. Discussion of a possible Therapeutics Products Directorate ("TPD") workstream on complex generics regulatory pathways.