A Langley-based cannabis companyB次元官网网址檚 announcement that it has received federal government permission to produce up to 250 grams of cocaine caused a political furor in B.C. on Thursday, but the company wonB次元官网网址檛 be selling it to the public.

A press release issued Feb. 22 said that last year, Adastra Holdings received an amendment to its Controlled Drug and Substance DealerB次元官网网址檚 Licence that allowed it to B次元官网网址渋nteract withB次元官网网址� up to 250 grams of cocaine, and to import coca leaves to manufacture and synthesize cocaine.

The licence was originally granted last year, and allowed Adastra to produce psilocybin and psilocin, the substances found in B次元官网网址渕agic mushrooms.B次元官网网址� Those types of psychoactive drugs are being increasingly used in therapeutic contexts, largely in ongoing studies.

Although the licence was issued by Health Canada, a federal agency, the press release references the recent decriminalization in B.C. of small amounts of hard drugs for personal use. The decriminalization, authorized by Ottawa, is aimed at reducing overdose deaths, and does not legalize the sale or production of cocaine, heroin, or fentanyl.

B次元官网网址淗arm reduction is a critically important and mainstream topic, and we are staying at the forefront of drug regulations across the board,B次元官网网址� said Michael Forbes, CEO of Adastra said in the release. B次元官网网址淲e proactively pursued the amendment to our DealerB次元官网网址檚 Licence to include cocaine back in December 2022. We will evaluate how the commercialization of this substance fits in with our business model at Adastra in an effort to position ourselves to support the demand for a safe supply of cocaine.B次元官网网址�

Cloverdale-Langley City MP John Aldag spoke with officials at Health Canada, and confirmed that the cocaine is not intended for commercial sale, but for research purposes.

B次元官网网址淭hey cannot sell the products directly to the general public,B次元官网网址� he said.

A statement from Health Canada on Friday, March 3 clarified the scope of AdastraB次元官网网址檚 licence.

B次元官网网址淎dastra Labs is licensed by Health Canada for this controlled substance for scientific and medical purposes only,B次元官网网址� the statement said. They can only sell to other labs that have identical licences, pharmacists, hospitals, or holders of a special government exemption for research purposes.

B次元官网网址淗ealth Canada has contacted the company to reiterate the very narrow parameters of their licence,B次元官网网址� the statement said. B次元官网网址淚f the strict requirements are not being followed, Health Canada will not hesitate to take action, which may include revoking the licence.B次元官网网址�

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The announcement, particularly ForbesB次元官网网址� suggestion that cocaine production would be commercialized, drew swift reaction from multiple B.C. politicians.

NDP Premier David Eby was asked about the announcement and how it fit into the governmentB次元官网网址檚 approach to mental health and addictions.

B次元官网网址淭he short answer is that I was astonished by this announcement,B次元官网网址� Eby said at a press conference on Thursday.

B次元官网网址淚t is not part of our provincial plan,B次元官网网址� Eby continued. B次元官网网址淚f Health Canada did in fact do this, they did it no only without engaging with the province, but without notice to us.B次元官网网址�

He said they would get answers from Health Canada about the issue.

BC Liberal leader Kevin Falcon also raised the issue during in the Legislature, asking B次元官网网址渨hat on Earth is going on here?B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淣ow, since the NDP decriminalized hard drugs like cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine, this companyB次元官网网址檚 stock price has doubled,B次元官网网址� Falcon said later in the debate. B次元官网网址淏ut letB次元官网网址檚 be really clear here. Cocaine isnB次元官网网址檛 prescribed. It isnB次元官网网址檛 safe. This is wrong. Commercializing cocaine as a business opportunity amounts to legalizing cocaine trafficking, full stop. So why has this Premier allowed for the commercialization of cocaine?B次元官网网址�

Solicitor General Mike Farnworth replied for the government, defending the new regulations that decriminalize small amounts of hard drugs for personal use, while also indicating that the NDP didnB次元官网网址檛 condone or plan to authorize commercial sales of cocaine.

B次元官网网址淭his is not and never has been about legalizing cocaine or encouraging it for commercial distribution, despite whatever the memberB次元官网网址檚 reading fromB次元官网网址�B次元官网网址� Farnworth said, before noise in the Legislature cut him off.

Later, responding to Liberal MLA Elenore Sturko, Farnworth said whatever licence Adastra had was not done in consultation with the province, and decriminalization aside, cocaine remains an illegal substance.

B次元官网网址淲e do not support the commercialization of cocaine in British Columbia or the country,B次元官网网址� Farnworth said. B次元官网网址淚f the federal government has granted a licence, then they should be taking it up with the federal government. TheyB次元官网网址檙e the ones who made that licence.B次元官网网址�

Licences to produce psychoactive drugs like psylocibin have only recently been granted as the drugs are being increasingly used in a therapeutic context. They are not for sale commercially like cannabis or alcohol.