More Remains to be Done to Strike the Right Balance on Edibles

(Toronto – June 14, 2019) Today, Daniel Safayeni, Director of Policy, OCC released the following statement in response to Health Canada’s regulations for cannabis edibles, concentrates, beverages, and topicals.

“We were pleased to see the federal government’s announcement clarifying the regulations around the next phase of cannabis products. This news provides industry with much-needed clarity and will allow for the development of a range of products to meet consumer demand. However, we were disappointed to see that multi-packs for edibles cannot exceed 10 milligrams of THC per package, well below what we recommended in our latest report, Supporting Canada’s Budding Cannabis Industry.”

“The OCC supports a THC limit of 10-milligrams per discrete unit of edibles, as well as the sale of multi-packs or multiple products—up to a maximum of 100-milligrams of THC per package—within child-proof packaging. As we outline in the report, single-packs are costly, while multi-packs would allow licensed producers to create economies of scale. The proposed regulations, however, limit the amount of THC per package to only 10 milligrams, which is significantly lower than illegal alternatives and lower in other U.S. jurisdictions where recreational cannabis is legal. We would encourage Health Canada to focus on ensuring that edibles and their servings are clearly marked, and dosage is easily visible and understandable while allowing a 100-milligram per package limit for edibles.

“As the industry and regulations continue to evolve, the OCC urges policymakers and government to continue to consult with the cannabis industry to ensure regulations strike the right balance between supporting the long-term viability of the sector, safeguarding public health, and combatting the illegal market.”

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For more information please contact: 
Ceara Copps – Edwards
Senior Communications Advisor
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
cearacoppsedwards@occ.ca| Office: (647) 936-6734

About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
For more than a century, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has been the independent, non-partisan voice of Ontario business. The OCC’s mission is to support economic growth in Ontario by defending business priorities at Queen’s Park on behalf of its network’s diverse 60,000 members.