News

Restrictive marketing hurts legal cannabis, hears Chamber

Published on December 17, 2020 by oz. staff

Restrictions on cannabis marketing and labelling are putting legal companies at a disadvantage.

That was the clear message during an industry led review of advertising regulations dictated through The Cannabis Act.

More than 100 participants joined a virtual event hosted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber’s National Cannabis Working Group led a meeting to hear feedback on cannabis marketing, promotions and labelling. It was the third of six conferences (links to the remaining three are below).

Questions and concerns included:

  • What does 19+ mean in a digital age? Is a simple age-gated website enough?
  • Is it OK to sell at a temporary sale price?
  • Illicit market has liberties on what they can design because they’re “regulated by nobody,” meaning legal companies are at a disadvantage.
  • Reconcile by making cannabis advertising regulations similar to alcohol, rather than tobacco.
  • The next rounds of consultation are critical.
  • Bring in standard quality measures for flower, like AAA beef.
  • The cannabis industry needs someone to champion its policy.

Listen to the entire session here.

Three more events:

The Chamber initiated its engagement process in advance of the separate statutory legislative review that Health Canada will be undertaking starting in October 2021.

There are still three sessions to go:

Medical Cannabis and Cannabis Health Products – Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Illicit market and anti-money laundering – Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Ancillary businesses – Wednesday, February 17, 2021