Exhibitors at a Montreal cannabis expo expressed hope and caution this weekend over the currently unfolding across Canada, as their products provided a glimpse of what could be to come in a future, less regulated market.
The two-day trade show, which brought together more than 120 exhibitors, was the first gathering of its kind in Quebec since recreational pot was legalized earlier this month.
The products on display provided potential investors and current stakeholders with information on the state of the industry, as well as an idea of what could be its future B次元官网网址� from cannabis-infused personal lubricants to hemp sprays for pets.
Soheil Samimi, an adviser to the board for cannabis product manufacturer Isodiol, said many companies are waiting for their chance to sell their products to a wider audience once the legalization market widens.
Samimi said thereB次元官网网址檚 a huge market in the wings for consumer products, including cosmetics, edibles and beverages, and health products.
B次元官网网址淭he current problem is supply, not demand,B次元官网网址� he said, noting that the consumer base is widening not only in North America but also Europe, South America and elsewhere.
He said heB次元官网网址檚 feeling positive about the process that is underway and believes the legalization door will open to more products in time.
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B次元官网网址淭oday I can go buy a joint and smoke it on the street, but I canB次元官网网址檛 use a hemp-based pain cream, because itB次元官网网址檚 topical, and thatB次元官网网址檚 not available yet,B次元官网网址� he said in an interview near IsodiolB次元官网网址檚 booth, which featured empty packages for the companyB次元官网网址檚 products, which arenB次元官网网址檛 yet licensed by Health Canada.
He said he believes regulators will have no choice but to allow more products eventually if they want to reach their goal of eliminating the black market.
At the same time, he said legalization had complicated matters for some companies who may find the new regulated system less clear than the unofficial market that operated before.
B次元官网网址淚n a province like B.C. B次元官网网址� and particularly the city of Vancouver B次元官网网址� before legalization, there was a local ecosystem where everybody understood what was accepted practices,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淭here was an understanding of what you could or couldnB次元官网网址檛 do locally, and now it complicates the fact because thereB次元官网网址檚 a new regulated systemB次元官网网址� that doesnB次元官网网址檛 always make its criteria clear, he said.
The products on display at the cannabis expo ranged from smoke filters and odour-eliminating sprays to edibles and health and wellness products B次元官网网址� many of which arenB次元官网网址檛 yet for sale or even licensed by Health Canada.
The odour of cannabis flowers or smoke was almost nowhere to be found as the vendors pitched business opportunities as much as products.
Catherine Lefebvre, who represents a company that sells hemp-infused products, said she believed legalization would open the door for new business opportunities B次元官网网址� even for companies that already operate legally.
The company she works for, La Feuille Verte, creates lines of products including hemp-based deodorants, skin creams and pet supplies, and recently debuted a line hemp-infused kombucha.
She said people donB次元官网网址檛 always understand that the products donB次元官网网址檛 contain any THC B次元官网网址� the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis B次元官网网址� and sheB次元官网网址檚 hoping more public events will provide opportunities for further education now that the industry is entering the spotlight.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e there to teach people what it is, but weB次元官网网址檙e there to open peopleB次元官网网址檚 minds and show them that with the cannabis plant, we can do a lot of things.B次元官网网址�
Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press
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