The Canadian Government Proposes Changes to Cannabis Regulations to Help Businesses
Attention all cannabis enthusiasts! The Canadian government is making moves to ease the regulatory burden on cannabis businesses. That’s right, you heard it here first. The government is proposing a series of amendments to federal cannabis regulations that will address issues ranging from packaging to reporting requirements. This is a game changer for the industry.
According to CTV News, these changes are a top priority as the government works to fix the problems that have been plaguing cannabis producers. Health Canada estimates that these amendments will result in $41 million in annualized net benefits by reducing administrative and compliance costs. That’s a lot of green!
One of the major changes includes allowing producers to package individual products in bulk outer packaging. This means more efficient and streamlined packaging for consumers. But that’s not all, folks. The proposed amendments also include changes to the Cannabis Act and Food and Drugs Act, such as streamlining requirements and allowing for the sale and distribution of cannabis pollen.
But let’s talk about the packaging changes, because let’s be real, that’s what we all care about. The amendments would allow for lids and containers of cannabis products to display different colors, cut-out windows or transparent packaging, and even QR codes for easy access to more information. And get this, producers can now package multiple products together as long as they stay under the 30-gram limit. That’s a lot of edibles in one package, my friends.
But don’t get too excited, there are still some restrictions. Images and information on packaging are still not allowed, except in cases where other statutes require it, like the recycling icon. But hey, we’ll take what we can get.
These changes are a major win for the industry, as it will help alleviate some of the problems that have been plaguing it since legalization in 2018. This includes bankruptcies and market consolidation due to oversupply. In fact, last December, there was $53.7 million worth of unsold cannabis products in Canada. Yikes.
But fear not, the government has been working hard to address these issues. Earlier this year, a group was organized to study Canada’s cannabis laws and they made 54 recommendations. These updates, along with the proposed amendments, are a step in the right direction for the industry.
So, fellow hipsters, let’s raise our artisanal, fair-trade, organic cannabis products to toast to these changes. It’s a new era for the cannabis industry in Canada.
