Canada: Quebec bans certain edibles

Quebec has announced that it will will not make certain edibles, even after legalization next October. Cannabis-based chocolates, jujubes, desserts, confectionery and «any other product appealing to minors» will not be sold in the country.

As of October 17, three new product categories will be legalized across the country: edibles, extracts and products for topical use. However, the Quebec government feels that the measures taken by Ottawa are not sufficient to protect minors. It maintains that federal regulations are insufficient «to achieve (the province's) public health and safety objectives».

Caution for young people

The Province wishes to reduce the appeal of cannabis-infused products to young people, and does not want cannabis to be «normalized». The government also stresses the risks of accidental intoxication, and the health hazards posed by products with a high THC content. «We think that children will be less inclined to eat food that is likely to be lying around the table, as has probably happened in the case of the intoxications we've seen,» says Mr. Carmant, a member of Quebec's National Assembly.

Under Quebec law, any solid edible cannabis product sold in Quebec may not contain more than 5 mg THC per unit, and 10 mg per unit. For liquid consumables, the limit is 5 mg per container.

However, the Canadian government has already announced that edible products will not be available until mid-December 2019.

Quebec amendments to the current law

Quebec also intends to ban any additives that might be used to alter the smell, taste or color of the product, and wants to limit the THC content of non-edible cannabis products to 30%.

François Legault, Premier of Quebec, would also like to raising the legal age to consume cannabis from age 18 to 21, but Bill 2 was still in committee before the summer break.