Canada’s limit on cannabis use has been increased – Cannabis | weed | marijuana

Health Canada can still limit Canada’s legal cannabis beverages to 10 mg THC, but the amount you can buy has increased.

Health Canada, the federal cannabis regulator, made the announcement on Dec. 9, although the changes went into effect a week earlier.

Canada’s cannabis beverage limit has been increased from a maximum of 5 standard-sized cans to 48. A standard sized can is 355 milliliters or about 12 ounces.

Canada’s cannabis beverage limit has been increased

Health Canada said the change aims to correct the unintended consequences of the link between drink restrictions and other cannabis products.

For example, there are legal THC oils on the market that can provide up to 800mg per bottle. However, the dropper device limits the dosage to 10mg (although you can always skip the droppers altogether and swallow half the bottle). But in total, the THC oil contains the equivalent of 30 grams.

Likewise, you can legally buy up to 30 grams of dried cannabis.

The idea with the previous cannabis beverage control was to mimic those limits. So if there are six grams per drink, the law would limit a person to purchasing five cans.

“Adults in Canada may now possess up to 17.1 liters (equivalent to 48 355ml cans) of cannabis beverages in public for non-medical purposes, an increase of approximately 2.1 liters (equivalent to five 355ml cans) ) under previous rules,” Health Canada said in a statement. “Existing controls that mitigate the risk of overconsumption and accidental consumption, such as B. child-resistant packaging and strict limits on the amount of THC per container remain.”

The industry welcomes the change

Dave Schlosser, CEO and President of Truss Beverage Co, said: “Having worked closely with the Cannabis Council of Canada and other industry members to advocate for this regulatory change, we believe that the number of cannabis beverages that can be purchased at one time , the category and cannabis allowed can be increased. to thrive in a broader sense. These new terms not only allow for a more convenient shopping experience, but provide Canadians of legal age more opportunities to add beverages to their existing cannabis product order, which will boost in-store sales for licensed retailers.”

George Smitherman, CEO of the Cannabis Council of Canada (C3), is also pleased with Health Canada’s increased cannabis drink limit.

The government announced the regulatory changes through Orders in Council.

Health Canada also changed how it “regulates non-therapeutic cannabis research involving human participants.” In addition to relaxing the rules around testing and testing children, “you are supporting this[ing] Access to a quality-controlled supply of cannabis.”

What is the point of the cannabis review?

So what’s the point of the 18-month cannabis review if the Trudeau administration can listen to industry insiders and apply the changes through executive orders?

One could argue that listening to the loudest (and richest) in the industry will allay their concerns without examining how legalization affects the smaller, more marginalized voices.

And that is true. However, it is a logical leap to assume that an overly bureaucratic review of cannabis law will yield better results. Bureaucrats came up with the original limit for cannabis drinks.

Trudeau’s government only implemented Canada’s cannabis legalization after a lengthy and costly task force.

Task Force members heard from stakeholders, patients, consumers, etc. They knew that over-reliance on “public health” would undermine the rationale for legalizing cannabis.

How will the cannabis law review be different? And suppose they recommend all the changes that everyone wants to see. What guarantee is there that this federal government will implement these changes?

Government incompetence is why it is better to advocate for free and fair markets. Creating a level playing field for all cannabis participants is a superior solution to the statist alternatives.

Increase cannabis drink limits from 5 cans to 48? Why not just increase the THC limit? Or would Health Canada prefer Canadians to drink more sugary beverages?