Two Canadian provinces halt sales of delta-8-THC products

Ontario and British Columbia, Canada's two largest cannabis markets, have decided to suspend the sale of products containing delta-8 THC.

L’Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS), which manages the supply of cannabis for Ontario, is invoking «a precautionary principle» regarding the potential health effects of this minor cannabinoid.

Dried cannabis flowers containing «low levels of naturally occurring delta-8 THC» will not be affected, the OCS clarified, in an email sent last week to licensed cannabis producers, according to reports from MJBizDaily.

In the e-mail, OCS said it had been «following emerging concerns in the U.S.» about delta-8 THC, in particular public health warnings from the Food and Drug Administration and the efforts of state governments «to regulate or ban products containing this cannabinoid».

OCS said it has been distributing products containing delta-8 since the beginning of the year, including vaper cartridges, and edibles, beverages, oils and topical products.

«While we are not aware of any adverse reactions to these products on the legal cannabis market in Canada to date, products containing delta-8-THC do not meet the definition of THC under federal cannabis law,» writes OCS.

In British Columbia, a spokesperson for the BC Liquor Distribution Branch (BCLDB) also told MJBizDaily that products containing delta-8 THC «(do) not meet the definition of THC under (federal) cannabis law».

«Information on delta-8 THC and its biological effects and potential health risks for consumers are new and emerging, The BCLDB is working with its government counterparts to determine the appropriate next steps.»

In its email to cannabis producers, OCS said it had sought «advice and guidance» on delta-8 THC from Health Canada, Canada's cannabis regulator, asking whether federal cannabis law should be amended «to address minor psychoactive cannabinoids and other synthetic derivatives not explicitly addressed in the (legislative) framework».

Existing stocks of delta-8 THC products will continue to be sold, but no replenishments will be made. The delta-8-THC is banned in France.