Quebec Delaying Edibles Rollout Until Jan. 1

Quebec, Canada cannabis regulators are delaying the rollout of edibles and extracts until January 1, while the products in the rest of the nation are expected to be on store shelves December 5, the Montreal Gazette reports. Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) Fabrice Giguère said the company – which is run by the province – is still finalizing which products it will allow its shops to sell, noting that it would not be like “the huge rollout” experienced in October 2018.

“Edibles are not a race. We want to make sure all the logistical impediments are sewn up, that production capacity is up and running. We’re working on what kinds of products we’ll have, prices, and how we’ll display the prices in our stores. We want to make sure everything is in place for the launch of these products in January.” – Giguère, to the Gazette

The Quebec government announced over the summer that THC-infused sweets would not be allowed to be sold in the province. Giguère said that the SQDC could carry non-alcoholic, cannabis-infused beers, teas and other drinks but no food, for the moment.

The government also capped THC content on concentrates and hash at 30 percent – which is much lower than typical concentrate products.

“We have to work with our suppliers to make sure they respect these limits,” Giguère said in the report. “It requires research and development on their end. So we want to give everyone time to make sure everything happens according to plan.”

Giguère also indicated that the company wouldn’t sell vapeable products, partly due to the “health problems that have arisen in the U.S.” related to vaping.

Quebec has among the strictest cannabis industry in Canada. Last month, the government raised the legal age to purchase cannabis products from 18 to 21; most provinces set the age at 19, Alberta’s age is set at 18.