On March 19, 2018, Health Canada unveiled its proposed
regulations under the Cannabis Act applicable to the
packaging and labelling of recreational cannabis following a 60-day
public consultation period. Noticeably, the approach being taken by
Health Canada towards cannabis bears a strong resemblance to its
approach towards tobacco, a move which is expected to upset
licensed producers that are seeking to differentiate themselves
from one another in any way they can in a hyper-competitive
industry. The general population's message to Health Canada was
that its approach needs to prioritize the health and safety of
Canadians, and in particular, restrict youth access to cannabis.
Health Canada's proposed regulations also address the
regulation of micro-cultivators and micro-processors, with the
goals of facilitating the participation of small-scale growers and
processors in the legal cannabis industry and eliminating the
underground black market.
