The cannabis edibles market reached extreme popularity in the U.S. Now, this trend is coming soon to Canada.
While marijuana buds have been available ever since Canada legalized marijuana, edibles, creams, and vapes will also be available to consumers.
Anyone who has eaten a marijuana edible knows they’re fun, but users should proceed with caution.
Manufacturers can alter the THC and CBD levels in edibles, making them potent and safe. In Canada, manufacturers will have to follow Canada’s guidelines on safe edible sale and consumption.
What are Canada’s regulations on cannabis edibles? What should your business know?
Product Rules
The overall edibles product rules are straightforward:
- No nicotine
- No added alcohol
- No vitamins or minerals
- Caffeine limitations
When consumers purchase a cannabis product, they know they’re ingesting cannabis and not tobacco or alcohol products. This means it’s forbidden to brew a beer with marijuana or make tobacco chews with cannabis.
Marijuana edibles are also no replacement for vitamins and minerals, including CBD-only edibles.
Your business can produce marijuana edibles with caffeine, such as chocolate; however, the government still needs to set exact limitations on caffeine content.
THC Limit
Cannabis edibles can’t contain more than 10 mg of THC per package.
Even though it takes edibles longer to kick in compared to smoking marijuana, the effects are more intense when you eat marijuana. That’s because your body absorbs more cannabinoids when you eat marijuana.
The THC limit ensures that users will be safe when eating marijuana edibles.
What about CBD? As of now, there’s no CBD limit on cannabis edibles.
Labelling
Your edibles business needs to include the following on the packaging:
- Health warning message
- The marijuana symbol to inform users there’s marijuana in this product
- THC/CBD content (and the equivalent to dried cannabis)
- Allergens warning
- Ingredient list
- Nutrition facts
While this isn’t required, Health Canada urges manufacturers to list dosing guidelines. These guidelines depend on your product and factors such as age, weight, and tolerance.
Packaging
As well as featuring these required labels, the packaging design should be plain.
There shouldn’t be anything featured on the packaging to attract children. In addition, it’s recommended you create child-resistant packaging so it’s difficult for children to open and access the cannabis products.
Other Helpful Information
Health Canada also states you can’t make health or dietary claims.
You should also state edibles are different than other cannabis and tobacco products. Before selling your new cannabis edibles, you must inform the health department at least 60 days in advance.
Be Prepared for Canada’s Cannabis Edibles Market
Cannabis has contributed greatly to Canada’s economy.
However, it’s essential that consumers are safe and no children consume cannabis products. With cannabis edibles making their way in Canada, Health Canada is setting strict guidelines to control and monitor cannabis edibles.
Do you want to produce cannabis edibles? Your business shouldn’t do this alone. We offer cannabis consulting for THC and CBD products. Visit our website and contact us for more information.