Quebec health authorities call for stricter regulations on cannabis-infused edibles

Quebec health officialssay the provincial government's plan to tighten cannabisregulations is a good thing, but they want the proposed rules taken a step further.

The province's 18 regional healthdirectors collaborated on a brief that, submitted to the Coalition Avenir Qubec government, calls for a complete ban onthesale of edibles that could appeal to minors, like those in the shape of fruits or animals.

"We have made a set of recommendations that are more directed at protecting our youth," said Montreal's public health director, Dr. Mylne Drouin.

The directors also recommend a ban on the sale of sugary drinks, including natural and sweetened juices,containing cannabis.

Like with sugary alcoholic drinks,Drouinsaid the sweetness covers up the cannabis taste and people may drink more than the recommended serving.

High THC products not recommend

Health directorssay products with higher THC levels are not aspredictable and more likely to increase the risks of poisoning, addiction and psychosis.THC is the main psychoactive element in cannabis.

The directors also want fewer products on the market. They believe that, by offering an overly diverse line of products, the industry attracts new consumers and, as a result, promotes cannabis use.

To help mitigate the amount of products hitting the market, they want to see the creation of a government body that would authorize new products before they are made available inSocit qubcoise du cannabisstores.

By authorizing only certain products, directors say it would limit the amount of products on the market.

"If we let the industry regulate itself, we know they are going to be creative and offer many products and we are going to have a diversity of products that may be attractive to youth,"Drouin told CBCNews.

The regional directorsare also calling for additional information on labelsthat warn against the dangers of combining cannabis and alcohol and include contact numbers for emergency services.

CAQ's proposal includes product bans

The CAQ outlined its plan to tighten rules last month. For starters, it is lookingto ban the sale of cannabis candies and desserts.

The proposed restrictionsinclude:

• Banning edibles that might grab the attention of children. Other edibles, such as cannabis-infused butter, will be allowed.
• Limiting the amount of THC a package of solid edibles can contain to no more than 10 mg (the same limit as federal regulations).
• Limiting the amount of THC that liquid cannabis edibles can contain to no more than 5 mg per package (the federal limit is 10 mg).
• Banning cannabis skin, hairand nail creams.

Cannabis advocates have slammed the CAQ's plan, calling it a win for the illicit market.

In a statement published shortly after the proposed rules were unveiled, the Cannabis Council of Canada saidthe efforts of the legal cannabis industry to replace the illicit market and keep cannabis out of the hands of minors "will be severely hindered."

Canada won't ban THC candy

The federal regulations on cannabis edibles, topical productsand extracts are set to go into effect Oct. 17. Those products are expected to hit shelves by December.

• Companies push ahead on pot gummy plans despite hazy regulations

Canada willnot ban the sale of cannabis candies and other sweets, but do require packaging be plain and child-resistant.

Health Canada has already said edibles must not be "reasonably considered to be appealing to a young person," but has not specified which colours, flavours or shapes will be allowed.

The CAQ tabled a bill last year that seeks to raise the legal age of cannabis consumption to 21 in Quebec which would be the highest legal age in Canada.

The party hadinitially wanted to ban smoking cannabis in public places, such as parks. But they abandoned that idea in May, saying it was unenforceable.