Legal Cannabis Edibles (Almost) For Sale in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and BC
First Legal Cannabis Edibles Hit Some Markets in Canada but Not All – LPC
Legal cannabis edibles and vapes could be sold as of December 16, 2019. For at least three provinces – Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and BC – that was the day suppliers started shipping product. John Arbuthnot, CEO of Delta 9 Cannabis in Manitoba, said that the first vapes and edibles left Auxly (Dosecann LD) in PEI and Aurora in Toronto on Monday.
“Barring the weather, we should be expecting these products in store within the next few days,” Arbuthnot said. (Please see link to the original news story below.)
In Saskatchewan, the first legal cannabis edibles are expected to hit store shelves on December 17, 2019.
Meanwhile in BC, edibles will only be available through the government’s online website. Even then, selection will be sparse. The BC Liquor Distribution Branch (BCLDB) said that out of the 260 new products that were expected to be ready for sale on Dec. 19, only a fraction will be available for sale on Thursday. Many won’t be available until the New Year, the branch said.
Even retailers don’t know what will be available when. “It’s kind of playing the waiting game,” said Geoff Dear, owner of Muse Cannabis in Vancouver. “We really don’t have a great line of sight on what exact products they are going to be carrying.”
Still, Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta won’t see any legal cannabis edibles before Christmas since those don’t allow producers to ship directly to retailers. According to the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS), the province’s legal wholesaler, products should reach the shelves on January 6, 2020. That’s assuming they past provincial quality tests.
The issues is more complex in Quebec, which has banned certain edibles.
Governments and Doctors All Saying, “Go Slow” – LPC
Meanwhile, provincial governments and medical professionals are warning people to be careful when legal cannabis edibles hit the shelves. Oncologist and cannabis expert Dr. Daeninck said that the Health Canada limit of 10mg of THC per edible may still be too high for some. Since the onset is longer and it’s so easy to eat more than one edible and have negative reactions including extreme paranoia.
“I do caution people to go slow, go low,” he said.
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA), who has questioned the risks and benefits of cannabis in the past, said it’s concerned about legal cannabis edibles hitting the market.
“The CMA remains concerned about the lack of clinical research, guidance and regulatory oversight for cannabis as a potential medical intervention,” it said in a statement.
Those who really want edibles for Christmas and who want to control their own THC levels can try cooking with cannabis.
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