Edibles, topicals and other cannabis products have recently been legalized in Canada but you will not be able to find them on shelves of your nearby stores for a number of weeks. Regulations governing the legal sale and use of cannabis topicals, extracts and Edibles Canada has officially come into effect last October, a year after the federal government legalized recreational use of cannabis in the country. So, what exactly does this mean? Will consumers be able to buy infused brownies at corner stores? What about the strengths of THC gummies? Will you be able to enjoy marijuana-infused chocolate in a public place? While it may still take some time before you can pick up new cannabis products, here is a guide on what you should look for when weed edibles finally hit the shelves.
What is On Offer?
Cannabis extracts, cannabis edibles and cannabis topicals that including creams and lotions will be covered under the newly introduced regulations. The new legal range of products is pretty vast – everything from THC chocolate bar to CBD shampoo will be available for purchase at offline stores and any legal weed dispensary or online retailer. However, Health Canada imposes limits on its potency. Several products including cannabis edibles containing any additional alcohol or nicotine will not be permitted.
How much you can see on the shelves at this time?
Technically, none. The regulations governing the sale of cannabis edibles, extracts and topicals in Canada took effect last month but that does not mean cannabis-infused foods will start coming out of ovens right away. Anybody bearing a license from Health Canada is allowed to start production and submit the products for approval which can take anywhere from 60-90 days. No products are expected to hit the shelves until mid-December.
Where can I buy it?
This largely depends on where you live. Just like the legalization of dried cannabis flower last year, the sale of cannabis edibles and topicals will be regulated by provincial governments. And this can vary from one place to another. For example, Alberta follows a hands-off approach to sales which is different from the government-regulated procedure in Quebec. Regardless of this, anybody interested in buying weed products should be 18 years or older in Quebec and Alberta and above 19 years in other provinces.
How high will I get?
Regardless of what you know about cannabis overdoses in the U.S., regulations about edibles Canada are quite strict. THC content in edibles is restricted to 10 mg per package. This means a pack of four brownies can contain only 2.5 mg each. This is only the tenth part of what is permitted in legal U.S. states. Cannabis in other forms may be allowed to contain higher levels of THC. For example, topicals and extracts are allowed up to 1000 milligrams of THC per package.
Is getting high on edibles the same as smoking cannabis?
Absolutely not. The body not only processes THC in different ways but the time between the intake and effect is also longer in case of edibles. This means, if you consume an infused brownie and don’t feel anything within 30 minutes, don’t consume another one. You should wait because it can take up to two hours or even longer to digest and metabolize the product before it can cause a high.