Pubdate: Mon, 27 Nov 2017
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Geordon Omand
Page: 16

HEALTH EXPERTS ISSUE WARNING OVER POPULAR POT CALENDARS

A Vancouver cannabis company is scrambling to keep up with a flood of
orders for marijuana-filled advent calendars, but the novel take on a
popular Christmas tradition has some health experts ringing alarm bells.

Lorilee Fedler of Coast to Coast Medicinals said she's been
overwhelmed by the response since launching the holiday calendars
earlier this month.

"We just wanted something fun and different for adults," Fedler said,
adding that she came up with the idea after seeing versions containing
beer.

The company, which is unlicensed, has sold 150 calendars, with 300
more orders ready for processing on top of a waiting list of about
1,500 people, Fedler said.

"We didn't expect it to be so popular," she added,
laughing.

Coast to Coast offers the advent calendars packed with only marijuana
flowers, only edibles, such as weed-infused gingerbread men and
snowflake cookies, or a combination of the two. They cost between $200
to $230.

The calendars are illegal but Fedler said she isn't concerned about a
crackdown, and police have not contacted her. The federal government
has yet to finalize legislation around restricting the marketing of
marijuana ahead of its proposed legalization date of July 1, 2018.

Last week, Health Canada unveiled a set of proposed regulations that
would, among other things, limit colours and graphics on cannabis
packages and require stark health warnings like those found on tobacco
products.

Rebecca Jesseman of the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
said the emergence of such advent calendars illustrates the gaps that
exist in the current law.

"The biggest concern is it's not a regulated product," Jesseman said.
"We're talking about a product that has not gone through quality
testing, so there's no way to be certain as to what's in the product
in terms of the levels of THC and other cannabinoids, so what the
level of intoxication will be."

Mark Haden, a professor in the School of Population and Public Health
at the University of British Columbia, said Canada needs to allow for
access without endorsement when it comes to the marijuana industry,
and allowing decorated, weed-filled calendars is a step in the wrong
direction.
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MAP posted-by: Matt