Organigram to publish test results
- Licensed producer Organigram Inc. (OGI.V) has announced that it will publicize testing results of its products in the near future, joining licensed producers such as CanniMed Ltd. (CMED.T), Aurora Cannabis Inc. (ACB.V) and Aphria (APH.V) in support of publishing testing data.
- The recent attention to pesticide use in the ACMPR industry has been prompted by identification of unauthorized pesticides in cannabis products of certain licensed producers. The ACMPR allow only 15 specific pest control products to be used on cannabis.
- Although Health Canada has recently introduced randomized pesticide testing for all LPs, the ACMPR do not mandate the publication of cannabis testing results.
- Cannabis testing is governed by section 64 of the ACMPR which specifies that contaminants in cannabis “must be within generally accepted tolerance limits for herbal medicines for human consumption, as established in any publication referred to in Schedule B to the Food and Drugs Act.” That schedule sets out eight different publications. Health Canada has specified that it is the LP’s responsibility to decide on the specifications and methods to adopt for testing.
- Responsibility for overseeing and interpreting cannabis lab tests lies with each licensed producer’s “quality assurance person”, who is typically an experienced scientist.
Comments please: Health Canada seeks LP input to clarify Good Production Practices and Recalls
- In a recent email to licensed producers shared with Lift, a cannabis media site (Health Canada’s correspondence with licensed producers is not public), Health Canada has invited comments with the view to publishing on its website:
- a guidance document on Good Production Practices (commonly known as GPP); and
- an industry guide on how to conduct a recall of cannabis for medical purposes.
- The intent of both documents, according to Health Canada, will be to promote compliance and enhance consistency in the approach to the regulations between both licensed producers and Health Canada.
- The ACMPR set out standards for GPP. However, some of the finer details, such as cannabis testing specifications and methodologies, are left to a licensed producer’s discretion, inviting different approaches by different LPs. The effort by Health Canada to establish consistent standards for GPP and recall practices represents another step in the maturation of the Canadian cannabis industry.
Cann-ine therapy: Owner treats pet with CBD oil
- A British Columbia dog owner was featured in a CBC article and radio segment for the success she had treating her dog with CBD oil to relieve his anxiety.
- Rebecca Hass was interviewed about her aging Portuguese water dog, Hudson, who developed “cognitive dysfunction” which would prompt him to whine anxiously for hours each day. Hass found that giving her dog oil rich in cannabidiol, a cannabinoid commonly referred to as CBD, calmed Hudson’s anxiety and helped improve his mobility and sleep quality.
- The article notes that cannabis products can be dangerous for pets if https://e4njohordzs.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/tnw8sVO3j-2.pngistered improperly. Veterinarians in B.C. are prohibited from prescribing or recommending it, although a vet who was interviewed stated that she would at least provide dosing information for owners who were determined to give cannabis products to their pets.
Manitoba to introduce bill aimed at marijuana-impaired driving
- The government of Manitoba plans to introduce a bill which would help police crack down on cannabis-impaired driving.
- Details of the bill have not been publicized ahead of its release, but the government indicated that fine points of where and how legalized cannabis may be sold in Manitoba are still being sorted out, making it unlikely that the bill addresses such matters.
- The prospect of cannabis-impaired driving has been raised in connection with the federal Liberal government’s initiative to legalize recreational cannabis. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada has emphasized the need for an effective roadside test for cannabis.
- In Canada, operating a motor vehicle while one’s ability to do so is impaired by a drug, including cannabis, is a federal criminal offence. However, measuring cannabis “impairment” is a challenge. Cannabinoids can remain in the body for days after consumption, even for an infrequent user. Moreover, unlike for alcohol, there are not yet any broadly accepted standards of which level of cannabis concentration in the body equates to impairment sufficient to render a person unsafe behind the wheel. Given the importance of this issue, however, we may well see an attempt in this bill to begin setting such standards.
Welcome to the club! Evergreen Medicinal Supply granted a cultivation licence
- A new licensed producer has been created – Evergreen Medicinal Supply Inc. was granted its cultivation licence on March 16. Evergreen is Canada’s 40th licensed producer, and is the third company issued a licence under the ACMPR in 2017.
|
March 21, 2017