Pubdate: Sun, 15 Oct 2017
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Sylvain Charlebois
Page: A10

CANNABIS: TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT IS THE QUESTION

If all things go according to plan, as of July 1, 2018, legal-aged
Canadians will be able to walk into a store, experience a perhaps
not-so-friendly retail environment and buy cannabis. Federal and
provincial government leaders are working out how and in what form you
will be able to buy it.

Edible items containing cannabis ("edibles") are prepared food
products, such as cakes, muffins, candy and drinks. This category also
includes the possibility of purchasing a restaurant meal that contains
cannabis. Edibles initially were to be banned under Bill C-45, the act
to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, but this was recently
amended to allow such goods.

This will take place one year after regular cannabis is legalized in
Canada. So it seems Ottawa has changed its mind and, arguably, for
some good reasons.

First, if the retail price of legalized cannabis remains unknown, the
black market could expand. As a result, edibles could become more
readily available to the public, which is less desirable. By allowing
edibles on the market, oversight regarding quality, safety, dosage,
packaging, labelling and other important aspects of food distribution
is more plausible.

Second, until recently, legislation stated that the only form of
cannabis available for purchase would be dried plant material for
smoking and edible products would, for the time being, be banned. Most
experts agree that ingesting cannabis is better than smoking it.

Not allowing edibles would have sent the wrong message to the public,
possibly inviting many consumers to consider the black market for a
healthier choice.

Meanwhile, Health Canada is informing Canadians that edibles are the
only form of safe cannabis consumption. This would have made the whole
thing awkward for the government.

Third, of course, are the various types of products that could cause
harm to children. Food innovation, free of any regulatory framework,
can lead to a mess. This is what the state of Colorado went through in
2014, when it legalized marijuana.

Child-friendly food products could become more common, exposing
children to harmful products. Candies, gummy bears, suckers and drinks
are forms of edibles that are already being produced and that are very
attractive to children.

A recent study from Dalhousie University suggests that almost 60 per
cent of Canadians are concerned about the access children will have to
cannabis come July 2018. The study also found that 46 per cent of
Canadians would try cannabis-infused food products, if they became
available on the market. The temptation clearly exists among consumers.

Most, driven by curiosity, will likely try to purchase products on the
black market.

The banning of edible cannabis products was plainly shortsighted.
Canada has a well-established food processing and food-retail
industry. These industries, whether food manufacturers or restaurants,
are not only accustomed to producing consistent, high-quality
products, but are also used to following phytosanitary and food-safety
regulations.

It should be of little challenge for them to create and deliver safe
and quality-assured cannabis, as long as regulations are clear and
predictable. They are just waiting for the official government
go-ahead to capitalize on what is considered by many to be a highly
lucrative market. It is not going to happen soon, but allowing edibles
would give a chance for the market to adapt to and manage a potential
cascade of cannabis-infused food products.

Much work remains, but it will all be worth it and is something the
Canadian public deserves. Giving edibles more attention in the
legislation is good news for everyone.

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Sylvain Charlebois is a professor of food distribution and policy at 
Dalhousie University in Halifax.
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MAP posted-by: Matt