(Montreal) Cauliflower in a pot, beets in cannabis, Reishi mushroom in marijuana: these are some of the amazing trappings of edibles sold in Quebec’s state-owned cannabis stores.
Posted at 2:21 p.m
Sidhartha Banerjee The Canadian Press
The Quebec government does not allow edible cannabis products sold in its Société Québécoise du Cannabis (SQDC) stores to be unattractive to young people. Consumers who do not want to smoke must therefore choose from a range of less “tasty” products such as dried figs. However, industry players and observers believe these strict regulations are helping the black market to thrive.
Fabrice Giguère, spokesman for the SQDC, recalled that cannabis-infused chewing gum, candy and other chocolates available in other provinces cannot be marketed in Quebec.
“That’s why our edible range is more geared towards products like cinnamon-currant bites, apples and matcha or blueberries and lavender, dehydrated beets, dried figs and cauliflower,” summarizes Mr. Giguère in a recent interview.
This offer allows us to meet market demand while respecting the applicable legal framework and our mission to protect public health.
Fabrice Giguère, spokesman for the SQDC
Ottawa allowed provinces to sell edibles in 2020, two years after federal legislation was passed that decriminalized cannabis across the country in 2018. Provinces like Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta were among the first to sell cannabis-infused edibles.
Quebec, on the other hand, didn’t start selling edibles at its SQDC stores until 2022 — and the state of Quebec remains the only licensed cannabis retailer in the entire province. In Ontario, for example, licensed private dealers can retail cannabis products.
Quebec’s unusual lineup has grabbed headlines, but industry experts like Pierre Leclerc, CEO of the Quebec Cannabis Industry Association, say these stricter rules aren’t doing much to root out illicit sales — the goal of the federal law.
“The only good news is that a year ago we didn’t have any (edible) products and now we have them, so it’s a step in the right direction,” Mr Leclerc admitted. However, these are products that do not meet the needs of consumers in the illegal market in order to attract them to the “legal” market.
“Between cauliflower and chocolate”
The vast majority of edibles available in Canada are illegal, largely because the black market offers products that are readily available, at lower prices and with higher tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels than edibles from “legal” stores. THC is the chemical compound in cannabis that induces the feeling of euphoria. The THC content of foods legally sold in Canada must not exceed 10 mg per package.
“It’s a coast-to-coast problem, but it’s more pronounced in Quebec because we have less product available,” explained Mr. Leclerc.
The association’s board chairman agrees with Quebec health officials who want to protect minors. But he thinks the Quebec government needs to decide if it really wants to wrest customers from the black market.
“We totally agree that it shouldn’t be attractive to children, but there is space between the dried cauliflower […] and, say, a candy bar,” Mr Leclerc said.
George Smitherman, President and CEO of the Cannabis Council of Canada, believes that even in provinces with a wide variety of edibles, THC content restrictions are leading consumers to look elsewhere.
A consumer walking into one of Ontario’s many legal cannabis stores, for example, would find a pretty interesting selection of edibles, but the caveat […] 10 mg per single pack […] represents a rather weak offer for the regular consumer of cannabis.
George Smitherman, President and CEO of the Cannabis Council of Canada, representing licensed cannabis producers in Canada
“It feels like the edibles category has really been sacrificed to the illegal markets […] We truly believe there is significant dominance on this site due to the 10mg limit. »
Michael Armstrong, a management professor at Brock University who studies the cannabis industry, said the industry often argues that higher levels of THC make the legal industry more competitive with the black market.
But edibles are difficult to manage for regulators worried about accidental ingestion, Professor Armstrong explained, adding that the duration of the euphoric effects of edibles varies from person to person.
“On the one hand yes, it would probably eliminate a large part of the illegal production. But on the flip side, you then have a lot more very potent edibles floating around for kids to get their hands on. »
A study conducted by Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children and Ottawa Hospital found that hospitalizations in Canada for cannabis poisoning among children under the age of 10 have increased six-fold since 2018.
The study, published in August in the New England Journal of Medicine, looked at a period from January 2015 to September 2021. It found that hospitalization rates in these provinces increased 2.9 times when food was allowed in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta were the first time after legalization.
On the other hand, in Quebec, where edible products were not yet “over the counter,” these hospitalization rates remained unchanged.
According to Mr. Giguère, edibles have been selling well in Quebec so far. It is now up to the government of François Legault to possibly allow a larger offer, he says. However, Mr Giguère admits that SQDC stores are regularly adding new items to their shelves and that 2023 should see more edibles available.