Pubdate: Tue, 06 Oct 2015
Source: Metro (Vancouver, CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Metro Canada
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3775
Author: Emily Jackson
Page: 2

MARIJUANA PRODUCER CLOSER TO SELLING EXTRACTS

A licensed medical marijuana producer in B.C. is getting closer to 
selling marijuana extracts such as oils and liquid capsules, products 
traditionally in the realm of still-illegal dispensaries.

Nanaimo-based producer Tilray got a licence to produce cannabis oils 
from Health Canada in August. The federal regulator is letting 
licensed producers make - and eventually sell - fresh marijuana and 
cannabis oil as well as dried marijuana in light of a Supreme Court 
decision that patients have a right to these forms of the drug.

Tilray has since developed 20 products including cannabis drops, 
liquid capsules, oral spray and topical oil (all will come in a 
variety of dosages), vice-president of patient research Philippe 
Lucas said Monday.

It hopes to get permission to sell them by November, Lucas said. He 
didn't weigh in on whether this will help Tilray compete with 
dispensaries - there are more than 100 in Vancouver hawking a variety 
of products despite not being legally allowed to do so - stating the 
company's goal is to meet patient needs.

Physicians and patients have both advocated for the ability to 
legally buy extracts for those who don't want to smoke, he said. 
Extracts also allow for more precision in dosages, can be used more 
discreetly and have longer lasting effects.

Twelve out of 26 licensed producers in Canada have received 
permission to produce extracts thus far.

Extracts will be permitted in Vancouver dispensaries when its new 
regulations come into play.

People argued that the city should allow edibles as well, as it can 
be hard for people in pain to cook with extracts, but the city 
refused to budge because treats like brownies look too appealing to children.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom