An advocacy group is calling on the federal government to increase the edibles limit to 100 mg and they have 1600+ petition signatures, and growing, to back them.
NORML Canada Petition
NORML Canada is a non-profit, member operated and funded group working to reform cannabis laws.
The group is advocating to increase the edibles package size limit from 10 mg to at least 100 mg. NORML says, “Limiting edibles to only 10 mg per package strengthens the unregulated market, has excessive taxation, and results in excessive packaging waste.”
It launched a petition on November 8, which has since captured 1620+ signatures at the time of publication, calling on the federal government to increase the maximum THC allowed in edibles cannabis products to 100 mg. The petition notes:
- The current limit of 10 mg THC serves as a suitable starting point for newcomers, but fails to adequately cater to existing consumers
- The legal, regulated cannabis industry is unable to compete against the illicit market
- THC limits are contributing to an entirely new stream of single-use plastics, contrary to Canada’s plan to address pollution and prevent plastic waste
NORML believes increasing the THC limit will address the above concerns, benefit consumers, and contribute to a more sustainable industry.
Competition Bureau and OCS Agree
The petition notes that both the Canada Competition Bureau and Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) have called upon Health Canada to increase the THC limits.
The Competition Bureau has stated that “restricting THC levels may not be necessary to achieve the government’s objectives”, while the OCS has emphasized the need to “revisit the current THC limits.”
NORML suggests these endorsements from reputable organizations highlight the importance of reconsidering the current restrictions.
Cannabis Caucus Co-Chair and Liberal MP Patrick Weiler for West Vancouver – Sunshine Coast – Sea to Sky Country in BC is sponsoring the petition. The petition will remain open for signature until March 7, 2024. It already has the required 500 signatures to be tabled in the House of Commons.
Health Canada Consultation
On November 4, Health Canada opened up a public consultation on the proposed Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Concerning Food Additives and Compositional Standards. This includes amendments to the cannabis regulations for edibles.
The public is invited to comment on Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s proposal to modernize the regulatory frameworks under the Food and Drug Regulations which includes governing food additives.
The current regulations allow the holder of a cannabis licence for processing to use a food additive as an ingredient to produce edible cannabis that is a cannabis product (or contained in a cannabis accessory that is a cannabis product), subject to certain requirements.
Health Canada is proposing amendments to how the food additives in cannabis are classified. It is also proposing that the Cannabis Regulations be amended to indicate that edible cannabis would not have a poisonous or harmful substance.
These proposed changes would not have an impact on the existing policy regarding the use of a food additive in edible cannabis that is a cannabis product or for use in the conduct of non-therapeutic research on cannabis.
The consultation is open for input until February 2, 2024.