By Jon Hiltz

 

Marijuana comes in many forms, each different from the next. One of those incarnations, cannabis chocolates, and candies, is under scrutiny as of late for being too enticing to children. Politicians are scratching their heads over how to keep these items from the little ones and at the same time allow a somewhat free market (when it exists) for all cannabis-based products.

Nutritional High is one of those companies that find themselves on the cutting edge of the soon-to-be-booming cannabis-based edibles industry, and some of the products they make are the kind that induces mild uproar.

Run by CEO (and native Torontonian) David Posner and COO Jim Frazier, Nutritional High produces vape oils, gel capsules and also (the universe’s gift to humanity) chocolates, gummies and hard candies all containing our favourite ingredient.

“We want to market chocolates because of the health benefits and the chocolate industry as a whole has been growing at 6% to 9% per year,” said Posner in an Interview with Marijuana.com. “Edibles give us the opportunity to connect with many different types of consumers. We satisfy the sophisticated consumer on a gourmet level and bring upscale quality products to the adventurous person.”

The two execs are not phased about the concern some have shown over the allure candy and chocolate could pose to a youngster. Nutritional High takes the same logical approach as any company producing a product just for adults. “Nutritional High strives to make sure our products are properly marked and packaged in tamper-proof packaging to help infused products [from]being misused,” said Frazier.

Right now in Canada there is no framework to show us what the future of the cannabis industry will look like for edibles. As time marches on to the historic legislation to legalize in 2017, these treats will need to be a large part of the equation. Assuming, of course, that Trudeau wants to stop the black market from profiting on candy as a result of government regulation.

As for what this framework and legislation should look like, Posner and Frazier believe that the “Colorado model” of retail pot shops owned by individuals is superior to some large corporate entity establishing card blanche across the country, telling Canadians which products they can and can’t purchase. The latter option seems to be where the government is leaning.

The corporate entity issue has also been a longstanding debate in the liquor industry, as the government primarily controls the entire sector. The frustration for many Canadians dealing with “government hours” to buy booze leads to a common complaint in Canada of not being able to get a drink after 9:00 pm, unless you go to a bar. Not until recently did the Ontario government, for example, allow others to sell such products.

Similar constraints are something the cannabis community is working to avoid but in the end, the feds get the final word.