Forward Regulatory Plan 2022-2024: Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Concerning Cannabis Research and Testing and Cannabis Beverages and Order Amending Schedule 3 to the Cannabis Act

Title of Regulatory Initiative

Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Concerning Cannabis Research and Testing and Cannabis Beverages and Order Amending Schedule 3 to the Cannabis Act

Enabling Act

Cannabis Act

Food and Drugs Act

Description

Health Canada is proposing amendments to facilitate cannabis research for non-therapeutic purposes and cannabis testing and to change the public possession limit for cannabis beverages.

Specifically, the proposed regulatory amendments would: (1) exempt cannabis manufactured and sold for the purpose of cannabis research for non-therapeutic purposes from the application of Division 5 of Part C of the Food and Drug Regulations; (2) create a framework under the cannabis research licence under the Cannabis Regulations to authorize cannabis research for non-therapeutic purposes with appropriate health and safety controls to protect human participants; (3) authorize additional activities for certain licence holders (i.e., to produce, distribute, and sell reference standards and test kits); (4) expand the qualifications for Head of Laboratory position; and (5) increase the public possession limit for cannabis beverages.

Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)

This initiative is not part of a formal regulatory cooperation work plan.

Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses

It is anticipated that the proposed amendments would have impacts on researchers, public health stakeholders, health care associations, individual Canadians, government laboratories, law enforcement, authorized provincial and territorial retailers (and medical sale licence holders), current and potential cannabis processing licence holders analytical testing, and research.

Consultations

Health Canada pre-published the proposed changes in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on March 12, 2022 with a 45 day public comment period.

Health Canada plans to publish the proposed changes in Canada Gazette, Part II in fall 2022.

Further information

Additional information can be requested from the departmental contact.

Departmental contact information

Jacqueline Oddi
Acting Director
Regulatory, Legislative and Economic Affairs Division
Strategic Policy (Cannabis)
Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch
Health Canada

Telephone: 778-239-3405
Email: cannabis.consultation@hc-sc.gc.ca

Date the regulatory initiative was first included in the Forward Regulatory

February 2021

Consult Health Canada's acts and regulations web page for:

Consult the following for links to the Cabinet Directive on Regulation and supporting policies and guidance, and for information on government-wide regulatory initiatives implemented by departments and agencies across the Government of Canada:

To learn about upcoming or ongoing consultations on proposed federal regulations, visit:

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