Cannabis Protectionism or Cannabis Regulation?
MJBiz Daily Explores Accusations Canada’s Lack of Free Trade Cannabis – LPC
According to an MJBiz Daily report, several countries are upset with Canada’s cannabis protectionism stance. They see Health Canada’s stringent regulations on imported medical cannabis as unfair in a free market.
Jamaica is one of those countries. Audley Shaw, Jamaica’s minister of industry, commerce, agriculture, and fisheries, said cannabis protectionism is hurting Jamaica’s economy. It’s also “putting the investment of several Canadian investors in Jamaica at risk,” Shaw said. “In fact, several Canadian investors have already closed down their operations in Jamaica because of this.”
Consultant Shane Morris of Morris and Associates Consulting said that Canadian laws in fact do allow medical cannabis import. At least in theory. He said he doesn’t know of any actual commercial imports, adding that security, health and safety, and cannabis protectionism probably all play roles.
“From a regulatory perspective, there’s nothing I can see that would prevent those imports on a commercial basis,” Morris said. “Health Canada has to consider a whole range of elements on each particular import.”
In fact according to the report, Canada imported virtually no cannabis between October 2018 and March 2019 for medical or scientific use. That’s the latest date range available.
Cannabis Protectionism Too Simplistic an Answer
You could argue that Canada wants to ensure a safe cannabis supply for Canadians. After all, we have one of the most stringently regulated cannabis industries in the world, On the other hand, with companies like Aurora Cannabis reporting last year that they are dumping cannabis, the last thing Canadian companies need is competition. Besides, as COVID-19 has shown, reducing Canada’s reliance on imports and making it ourselves – cannabis, dairy, or N95 masks – is not a bad thing.
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