Features

How sweet it isn’t…

Published on June 17, 2019 by David Wylie

Laws on edibles and concentrates are now finalized.

A small selection of cannabis edibles are expected to be available gradually in stores — no earlier than mid-December 2019.

As expected, the rules are restrictive and the federal government’s tone is telling.

The double standard between alcohol and weed has never been more clear than when comparing cannabis beverages to alcoholic ones. The limit is 10 mg of THC per package, which has widely drawn criticism.

Cannabis Minister Bill Blair, who goes by the title of minister for border security and organized crime reduction, says is his main priority is uprooting the underground market. We’d argue, this kind of overly restrictive treatment is what keeps the black market thriving.

The way to pull people to legal cannabis sources is to normalize it. Not to make Canadians feel like they should stash their dirty weed inside a discreet brown paper bag and consume it out of sight, and out of mind.

Feels criminal

Can you imagine selling only single hotel-bar-servings of liquor, rather than by the bottle? Or only one can of wine or beer? The regulations are wasteful and punitive — serving only the stigma and not the consumer.

There’s barely anywhere anyone can consume legally, anyway.

The fact that the ‘minister of organized crime’ is in charge of cannabis messaging tells you everything you need to know about the government’s current approach to weed.

We’re in the midst of radically changing Canadian history with a new variety of cannabis products and all Bill Blair can muster is: “The amended regulations are the next step in our process to reduce the risks to public health and safety from edible cannabis, cannabis extracts and cannabis topicals and displace the illegal market for these products in Canada.”

Message received, Bill.

Here’s our take on the hypocrisy…