The problem with delaying the legalization of edibles
by Nathan Sing
While Canada will delay the legalization of cannabis edibles to a year after the drug is legalized in July 2018, activists say this poses a big problem.
Currently, Bill C-45 (a.k.a. the Cannabis Act) does not include the sale of edible cannabis products. The bill will only allow the purchase of fresh and dried cannabis, cannabis oils and seeds and plants for cultivation at home once legalized on July 1, 2018.
Canadians will be able to prepare edibles at home for personal use, but won’t be able to purchase edibles at restaurants or at retail stores – at least not legally.
The importance of edibles
“Many people don’t know how to roll joints or are not interested in smoking anything, so edibles are especially important for new users and medical users who are approaching it from a medical perspective,” said cannabis activist Jodie Emery.
Emery says that edibles are valuable for people who are on painkillers and prescription drugs, but it may be particularly important for elderly and senior citizens who have trouble sleeping.
“Edibles work for a lot of people because it doesn’t give you the same sort of high as smoking it or vaping it. Some people like to have a cookie before bed because it just gives you relief from the pain,” said Emery.
Andrew Leakey, a second-year student at Ryerson University, said his aunt struggled to sleep since being diagnosed with leukemia, and resulted to edibles to help her sleep. “Since it’s a gradual high, she can get a better sleep. It’s also less harsh on her throat compared to smoking or vaping it,” said Leakey.
While Leakey says his aunt could just make the edibles herself, he says doesn’t see why the government doesn’t legalize all cannabis products next year. “It’s just inconvenient for people because if you’re allowed to do everything but buy the edible, what’s the point of even delaying it. It makes no sense.”
The war on weed
Cafe 66, a dispensary located in downtown Toronto, sells a variety of cannabis edibles including gummies, brownies, cookies and toffee. The dispensary is one of many dispensaries across Canada that have been raided since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took office.
Wesley Murray, the legal strategist at Cafe 66, said that regardless of the raid, the dispensary will continue to operate. “We’re going to continue to be a pioneer, we are going to continue to lead.”
Since Canada’s legislation is not set to include cannabis edibles until July 2019, Murray says that will put many Canadians out of products they rely on for medicinal purposes. “There are no reasonable access methods in Canada for millions of people, [while] we already provide this type of dignified access,” said Murray.
Emery’s ‘Cannabis Culture’ dispensaries across Canada that she owns with her husband Marc Emery was also among the dispensaries that were raided. She went on to call the federal government’s cannabis legislation “a disaster.”
Ontario’s plan to regulate cannabis means that dispensaries like Cafe 66 will not be legal retailers of cannabis in Ontario. The province says on their website that they will “pursue a coordinated and proactive enforcement strategy to shut down illegal operations… to reduce the illegal market, enhance public safety and eliminate the sale of unregulated and potentially unsafe cannabis products.”
Emery says she is “deeply distressed and concerned about the twisted way the government has changed legalization into a cash cow for cops to continue arresting people.”
“They are also inviting in big business and former cops and politicians to make money while the arrest, criminalize and demonize the rest of us, particularly the activists.”
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