Experts have predicted a huge market for legal cannabis. This already seems to be the case as many government regulated outlets have difficulty keeping up with supply.
After smoking, edibles (containing the active ingredient THC) are the next phase set to arrive on the market and this could be another huge and profitable market but because it’s not without its own concerns, the government, industry, and medical experts are still working on regulations.
Jameson Berkow is a reporter with the Globe and Mail’s cannabis professional news service.
ListenEven before “edibles” become marketable products, there have already been some cases where some people, children notably, and at least one elderly person, have consumed THC infused candies and suffered medical episodes.
Jameson Berkow, reporter with the Globe and Mail news cannabis professional news service. (Twitter)
Toronto’s medical officer of health is already calling for a ban on edibles that might appeal to children, such as candies. Dr. Eileen de Villa is also concerned about young people and vaping, calling for additional bans on marketing campaigns in places where youths might access and cannabis use in movies and videos.
Medicated High Chew edibles are shown on display and offered for sale at the cannabis-themed Kushstock Festival at Adelanto, Calif. on Oct. 20, 2018. Edibles aren’t legal for sale in Canada yet, but new regulations are in the works and products like this may be available later this year in Canada. (Richard Vogel/Associated Press)
Calls to poison centres regarding overdoses of cannabis have doubled in Ontario alone from 2013 to 2017 and that was before recreational use became legalised in October of 2018.
Cannabis overdose reporting is not consistent yet across Canada, but figures for Alberta and Ontario may be representative.
It is thought that new regulations concerning cannabis edibles, extracts, and topical products (creams, ointments etc) may be ready within months and may take effect by October of this year.
additional information
- CBC: L Pelley: Feb 16/19: call to ban cannabis candies
- CBC: Dec 6/18: Cannabis cookies send young girls to hospital
- CBC: R Laychuk: Feb 13/19: 2 year old in hospital after eating cannabis chocolate
- Gov’t of Canada: consultation on regulation of edibles, extracts, topicals
- PostMedia: S. Kirkey: Feb 11/19: Cannabis lollipop send elderly man to hospital with heart attack
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