Ahead of the nationwide legalization, Canada has recently decided to sell marijuana in plain and rather dull packaging. The only stimulating encasings to the mind and the soul are probably just the scary health warnings.
Canadians online expressed their haughty opinion over the strict packaging, some even questioned over why the government is using a “stop sign” to warn consumers over THC, the natural psychoactive component found in marijuana that gives people the high.
Rielle Capler, a marijuana researcher and PHD Candidate at UBC with a Masters in Health Administration, questioned on Tuesday why is there a “stop sign” and that the “proposed warnings are not accurate.”
About the packaging. 1) the most important thing should be sustainable materials 2) a stop sign? 3) proposed warnings are not accurate 4) are those Rasta colours? 5) why childproof for cannabis and not tobacco? the latter is highly toxic to ingest https://t.co/MHOTM08LzX
— Rielle Capler (@RCapler) March 20, 2018
In response to Capler, Mx Golem wrote sarcastically: “The red octagon is to warn people: STOP! Is there enough THC in this pouch to achieve the desired effect? Maybe get one more item just to be sure”
The red octagon is to warn people: STOP! Is there enough THC in this pouch to achieve desired effect? Maybe get one more item just to be sure”
— Mx Golem (@TheGolem1) March 20, 2018
Her tweet also generated serious discussion, with some Twitter users asking over why “terpene profiles” were not included. “They are way more informative than a THC level.”
Terpenes are the fragrant oils that give buds of the same strain different taste and smells. Like cannabinoids, terpenes also bind to receptors in the brain and give rise to various effects.
Others also pointed out on how the black market will continue to thrive.
“The good thing about the new simple cannabis packaging the Canadian government proposes is that it will be easy for the black market to duplicate,” wrote BLUNDS BRANDS on Twitter.
The good thing about the new simple cannabis packaging the Canadian government proposes is that it will be easy for the black market to duplicate
— BLUNDTS BRAND (@blundts) March 19, 2018
The prominent Canadian activist Danna Larsen expressed defiance in a satirical tweet, showing how the current legalization process for marijuana is all about profits and not about civil rights.
Activists: “This so-called legalization has longer sentences for cannabis than prohibition did!”
LPs: “Yawn.”
Government: “Your legal marijuana packaging has to be boring.”
LPs: “How dare you! This is an outrageous violation of our rights!”#cdnpoli— Dana Larsen (@DanaLarsen) March 21, 2018
Licensed Producers (LPs) objected following the decision, with Aurora Cannabis calling it “scientifically wrong.”
“Plain packaging that treats cannabis like tobacco is outrageous and scientifically wrong,” Cam Battley, a chief corporate officer of Aurora Cannabis told the Financial Post in a phone interview. “The federal government is risking a policy failure.”
Kirk Tousaw, a marijuana advocate, said Canadians don’t want “boring” packaging.
“Government wants it boring. We don’t. We know cannabis is fun, exciting, flavourful, sensory – all the things we rejoice in when talking food, wine, drink. After years of arrests and jails, we don’t want 2d class status.”
As well as the new plain packaging symbol, Ontario also announced today the new mandatory Ontario Cannabis Store employee uniform. #OnPoli #cannabis pic.twitter.com/bVceeuhW3s
— Matt Gurney (@mattgurney) March 19, 2018
Some people even suggested the following:
may i suggest two additional health warnings for #cannabis packaging:
1. cannabis can affect short term memory
2. cannabis can affect short term memory
— Adam Greenblatt (@adam_greenblatt) March 20, 2018
However, there are others who took the whole packaging decision very seriously. They even pitched in with their proposals:
. @GovCanHealth proposes sensible packaging standards for cannabis products and some LPs light their hair on fire. Important to *not* replicate mistakes made w/ alcohol when legalizing cannabis. https://t.co/iy4BzpFFts
— Elaine Hyshka (@ehyshka) March 21, 2018
