Pot law may include packaging restrictions

BRANDING URGED

OTTAWA • Growers on the cusp of Canada’s nascent marijuana industry are bracing for the Liberal legislation on legal pot Thursday, which sources say is expected to require the drug to be sold in brand-free packaging.

Pot producers are warning the federal government they won’t be able to compete with the black market without some form of branding.

Health Minister Jane Philpott would neither confirm nor deny the marijuana bill would require plain packaging, offering only that there are public health lessons to be drawn from the experience with tobacco.

Seven companies — Tilray, Tweed, Mettrum, CannTrust, Green Organic Dutchman Holdings, RedeCan Pharm and Delta 9 Bio-Tech — wrote to Philpott and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to warn about the potential consequences of plain packaging.

“Without branding and in-store marketing collateral, it will be difficult to educate consumers about the products they are buying and help them differentiate between products,” they wrote.

“Brands also ensure accountability, encouraging producers and retailers to provide quality products and support in the new market.”

Members of the medical community will also be watching to see if Ottawa proceeds with a recommendation to limit sales to those over 18 — something Trudeau seemed to endorse last year when he described it as a reasonable compromise.

The Prime Minister’s Office declined to say if he still feels that way, saying only it would “legalize, strictly regulate and restrict access” to cannabis in a careful way to keep it out of the hands of young people and to prevent criminals from profiting.

The Canadian Psychiatric Association has warned about the mental health implications of cannabis for young people, and recommended an age limit of 21, as well as quantity and potency limits for those under 25.

Early and regular cannabis use can affect memory, attention, intelligence and the ability to process thoughts, CPA President Dr. Renuka Prasad said, and exacerbate the risk of psychotic disorders and other mental health issues among those already vulnerable.

Criminalizing cannabis has not deterred its use by young people, Philpott said, noting other products including alcohol and tobacco are available with restrictions for legal consumption despite known harms.

Marijuana is an example of the look-before-leaping approach the Liberals took to their 2015 campaign promises, Conservative MP and leadership candidate Erin O’Toole said Wednesday.

O’Toole said he would rather see a “hybrid” version of decriminalization that would allow police to ticket users, while retaining the ability to lay a criminal charge at their discretion.