Dr. Rielle Capler, MHA, PhD

Dr. Rielle Capler has over 20 years’ experience in the cannabis field, engaging in research, knowledge translation, service provision, organizational development, and community organizing. She has consulted and advised on cannabis policy nationally and internationally. Rielle has worked extensively with both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

As part of her work in both community and industry organizing, Rielle has co-founded several organizations including the Canadian Association of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries which she helped to transition to address the new legalized context for cannabis into the Association of Canadian Cannabis Retailers. Rielle received the Governor General of Canada’s Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal acknowledging her contribution to Canadian society through her work with medical cannabis, including her foundational work with the first medical cannabis dispensary in Canada.

Rielle’s research and advocacy focus is on the instrumental uses of plant medicine, equitable access to medicine, and harm reduction. In particular, her focus has been on understanding the uses of illegal and stigmatized plant medicines and helping transition them to a legal context through research and advocacy.

Rielle has published widely on her research related to access to cannabis for medical purposes. She has also engaged in and published research on the use of ayahuasca for stress and addictions in a First Nations community in Canada. Dr. Capler is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the British Columbia Center on Substance Use at the University of British Columbia.