The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops issued the following statement: The Catholic Church for its part continues to underline the ethical problems involved with the recreational use and abuse of Cannabis: the negative risks that impact on psychological and physical health, the growing problems of a society more and more dependent on drugs and alcohol, the possibility of brain damage especially to those under the age of 25, the negative repercussions on families and local communities and unfortunately the willingness of businesses and governments to exploit the drug for commercial interests and as a source of tax revenue, thereby even further jeopardizing the pursuit of the common good. This coming November 29 to December 1st the Holy See is hosting an International Conference on “Drugs and Addictions: An Obstacle to Integral Human Development.” Quoting Pope Francis, “The concept note for the conference refers to addictive drugs as a worrisome problem in the world today which is fuelled – not without concessions and compromises on the part of institutions – by a shameful market that crosses national and continental borders, intertwined with organized crime groups and drug trafficking.” The scourge of drug trafficking favours violence and sows the seeds of suffering and death, Pope Francis has noted several times, to which the response of society should be acts of courage and the resolve to fight against all narcotics.