Health Canada eases cannabis industry burden in rules update

Health Canada has updated regulations governing the nation’s cannabis operators to address industry challenges while keeping intact public health and safety standards.The updates to the nation’s Cannabis Act as well as the Cannabis Regulations and Hemp Regulations were published March 12 in the official Canada Gazette.

ADVERTISEMENT According to the StratCann news outlet, five key areas are impacted by the changes: Licensing.Packaging and labeling.

Production.Recordkeeping.

Security.Pre-rolls are no longer limited to 1 gram for each unit, and the use of ethyl alcohol in certain cannabis products is now allowed as an ingredient in inhaled extracts up to 7.5 grams.

Packaging for dried marijuana, fresh cannabis or seeds now can have cutout windows and containers as well as different colors, not just one.Labels now can include QR codes and peel-back labels are permitted on all package sizes, not just small containers.

ADVERTISEMENT Other changes to the regulations include: Researchers no longer need a license to conduct non-human or non-animal research while possessing 30 grams or less of dried cannabis or its equivalent.The limit for micro-cultivators growing increased from a 200-square-meter canopy to 800 square meters with no limit on how much volume of cannabis can be grown.

Micro-processors production capacity increased from 600 kilograms (roughly 1,323 pounds) to 2,400 kilograms.Health Canada can suspend licenses operators that have unpaid fees or who fail to submit a statement of cannabis revenue.

The regulatory changes are expected to save licensees nearly 18 million Canadian dollars (roughly $12.5 million) in compliance costs and more than CA$24 million in administrative costs, according to StratCann....