Cannabis companies looking to roll out their edibles later this year may have some products barred from Quebec, with the province banning cannabis treats.
On Wednesday (July 24), Quebec announced that it would ban edible cannabis products that could appeal to minors such as candies, desserts and cannabis-infused chocolate. The ban could prevent some companies from selling their edibles in the province.
This comes after Health Canada announced last month that a “limited selection” of edible cannabis products will be slated to hit physical and online shelves by mid-December this year. The federal agency has said that packaging for edible cannabis products must be child-resistant and plain to lessen its appeal to youth.
Find out what experts are saying about the future of cannabis edibles
Read our new report on the 2019 Lift Cannabis Business Conference
Give me my free report!Some of the province’s cannabis advocates aren’t happy with the announcement. The Quebec Cannabis Industry Association condemned the new regulations in a press release on Thursday (July 25).
The statement reads that the new regulations were created “without industry consultation or economic impact analysis” and have caught the legal cannabis industry “off guard.”
“It is a shot across the bow for all Quebec businesses and a warning to those interested in investing in the province that the regulatory climate is unpredictable and subject to change without consultation,” the statement continues.
Cannabis companies have been eyeing the edibles market ahead of the legalization of cannabis-infused foods. Canopy Growth (NYSE:CGC,TSX:WEED) recently announced that it would be dedicating a section of its famed renovated Hershey’s Chocolate factory to produce cannabis-infused chocolates — up to an estimated 850,000 chocolates monthly.
On Tuesday (July 23), Tilray (NASDAQ:TLRY) announced the acquisition of Smith & Sinclair, a UK-based maker of boozy treats, including gummies and lollipops. Tilray plans on working with the company to create a line of CBD-infused edibles and distribute them in Canada and the US.
Keep up with major deals and investment opportunities in marijuana
Learn to profit from cannabis companies
Give me my free report!The edibles industry in Canada is shaping up to be lucrative. A report from Deloitte released in June said that the upcoming stage of cannabis legalization is expected to create a consumer market for edibles and alternative cannabis products worth more than C$2.7 billion a year.
“The edibles market alone is estimated to be worth at least C$1.6 billion a year in Canada, with cannabis-infused beverages adding a further C$529 million,” said Deloitte Canada executive Jennifer Lee in a press release.
The report also found that the global market for alternative cannabis products is expected to grow to US$194 billion and that nearly half of likely edible users are planning to consume gummy bears, cookies or chocolates every few months.
The amended regulations of the Cannabis Act will come into force on October 17, 2019, but there will be a waiting period before edibles enthusiasts can purchase them.
Under federal legislation in Canada, cannabis-infused food and drink will only be able to contain up to 10 mg of THC per package.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Cannabis for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Danielle Edwards, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.