Just because weed will be legal in Canada by the end of the summer doesn’t mean that discrimination against the herb is over. Last week, Health Canada introduced packaging and sponsorship restrictions on recreational marijuana. A Canadian advocacy group criticizes marijuana packaging restrictions that limit consumer choice and awareness, and potentially threaten the legal weed market.
Though you’ll be able to buy weed in metro stations, you may not be able to tell brands and types of Mary J apart if the government approves these regulations.
What Are The Restrictions, Exactly?
Health Canada wants pot packaging to be as unappealing as possible. Bill C-45, which will legalize recreational marijuana, prevents cannabis companies from providing customer testimonials, creating mascots and sponsoring events or buildings. In addition to these limitations, Health Canada wants to restrict colors, logos and images on cannabis product wrapping.
If the government accepts Health Canada’s proposal, all cannabis packaging will be standardized. There will be a large warning about the dangers of marijuana on the front of the package. The brand name will only appear in a small section of the top righthand corner.
Health Canada’s Restrictions Are Hypocritical
David Clement, the North American Affairs Manager at Consumer Choice Center, advocates on behalf of the consumer. Mr. Clement sees Canada’s potential restrictions as both dangerous and antithetical to consumer freedom.
“I would argue against [these restrictions], for three reasons,” Mr. Clement tells us. “First, it’s hypocritical because we don’t have these restrictions on alcohol […]. Their packaging can be colorful.”
Though cannabis will be completely legal as of this summer, marijuana retail will be a lot more limited. Whereas liquor companies can design colorful labels and even build stadiums like the Budweiser Stage