Explainer: how the SQDC’s pot labels work
With more than 110 products, knowing what you’re buying can be confusing
There are more than 110 products at the Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) — though several are already out of stock — and that number is expected to rise to 180 in the coming months.
Understanding what you’re buying can be a task unto itself.
With that in mind, here are some basic guidelines to help you decipher the labels of cannabis products available at the SQDC. Product name: Usually, the product name is right next to or above the type of cannabis.
Company name: The SQDC has several suppliers. The company name is usually listed next to the product name.
Type of cannabis: The SQDC has three types or species of cannabis — Indica, Sativa and hybrid.
Indica’s effects are described as creating “the impression of being calm and relaxed.” The strain is identifiable online by a blue square with a squiggly-line icon that looks like a wave.
Sativa is described as being “potentially energizing, uplifting or mentally stimulating.” The strain is identifiable online by a yellow square with a sunshine-style logo.
Hybrid is described as offering a mix of the effects of Indica and Sativa, and is identifiable online by a square kaki box with a circular dotted-line logo.
Cannabinoids and strength: Cannabis produces a variety of compounds known as cannabinoids.
SQDC labels list amounts of the two main cannabinoids, THC and CBD.
THC is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, according the SQDC, causing “most of the psychotropic and physical effects sought by users.”
The level of THC in cannabis determines its strength. A level of 0 to 10 per cent, or milligrams, is described by the SQDC as “moderate” strength. A level of 10 to 20 is described as “medium” strength. And a level of over 20 is described as “strong.”
CBD has few or no psychotropic properties. The compound is “better known for its medicinal properties,” according the SQDC site, and can “minimize potentially disagreeable psychotropic effects (paranoia, anxiety, etc.).”
Type of product: The SQDC sells dried cannabis flowers, ground cannabis, pre-rolled joints, cannabis oils, oral sprays and pills. Size: The SQDC sells cannabis in 1 g, 3.5 g and 15 g formats.