Vape alert

By David Wylie

Serious questions are being raised over the safety of cannabis vape products that contain a terpene additive called phytol.

According to StratCann.com, Tokyo Smoke’s vice-president of operations in Ontario sent an email July 31 to vape pen manufacturers in Canada. The email reportedly notified companies they had 48 hours to provide written confirmation that their products do not contain phytol.

Failure to respond would result in a stop-sale order on the company’s vape carts and filled pens, said StratCann.

A spokeswoman with Canopy Growth Corp., which owns Tokyo Smoke, told the oz. Thursday the company would provide information by end of day Friday (Aug. 7).

The StratCann article’s author, David Brown, is a former senior policy advisor with Health Canada’s cannabis legalization and regulation branch.

“The email states that Tokyo Smoke’s concern is associated with a 14-day inhalation toxicology study to be published ‘in the coming weeks,’ that Canopy Growth Corporation has shared with Health Canada,” wrote Brown.

“It also states that in their letter to Health Canada, Canopy will be placing immediate stop-orders on any vape products that list phytol as an ingredient and that the company will be following up with any vape pen manufacturers who list ‘terpenes’ as in ingredient to determine if the terpene phytol is used.”

A Health Canada spokesman told the oz. nobody was available to speak about the report, adding he had forwarded the request for information to subject matter experts.

It’s been less than a year since Cannabis 2.0 has come into effect, making new products including vaporizers legal.

Last year, a spate of deaths and hospitalizations blamed on vaping-related lung illness caused alarm just as the new products were about to be released. In some cases, additives to the cannabis oil reacted with the heat in a way that became toxic to the user.

Phytol is sometimes added to vape pen carts because cannabis oil used is too thick to heat and inhale and requires a thinning agent to ensure it is fluid enough to be effective with a pen’s heating coils.

A Health Canada letter sent in mid-July, requested that vape pen producers provide additional information on the “composition of certain vaping products which may be used to determine if products contain substances that are prohibited or that may be injurious to health,” according to StratCann.

Check the oz. site for updates to this developing story.

Pick your payment option

By David Wylie

Laws are loosening around the sale of cannabis at private retailers.

B.C. cannabis retailers are now able to make sales online and over the phone, but customers will still have to come to the store to show ID.

Meanwhile, provincially operated BC Cannabis Stores still have an edge, as they can make sales online as well as ship to customers through Canada Post.

The province made the announcement Tuesday that it had amended legislation to allow the policy change, which comes amidst strict health regulations for social distancing during COVID-19. Previously, private stores could only reserve products online, but not take payment.

“This change responds to a request from private retailers as they continue to follow the mandates of the provincial health officer,” said B.C. Attorney General David Eby.

“It supports public health and safety by reducing the amount of time customers need to spend in stores and allows them to remain physically distanced from employees and each other.”

The province said it is considering proposals from private retailers for delivery of online cannabis.

“We’ve heard from legal cannabis retailers that they want more tools to help increase competitiveness with the illegal market by allowing online sales,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “By offering online sales for cannabis products, we can support the growth of a vibrant, legal cannabis industry, while also keeping public safety as our top priority.”

Sarah Ballantyne, owner of Spiritleaf Vernon, said she is pleased the BC government is making steps to make legal cannabis more accessible, especially during this global pandemic.

“One of the goals of legalization is to eliminate the unregulated market and were making progress but there is still work to be done,” she said.

“We strongly urge the BC government to allow private retailers to offer delivery service. This service will also allow for the vulnerable population to access cannabis during the current pandemic.”

Ballantyne wrote to the LCRB in March requesting online payment and delivery. He request was promptly denied. She reached out to her MLA, the Association of Canadian Cannabis Retailers group and various other government officials.

“Online payment is just one piece of the resources we need to operate effectively during this pandemic in order to keep our staff and our customers safe,” she said.

Gummies by Kolab

By Jenny Neufeld

I recently tried two types of Kolab gummies, lemon lavender and grapefruit and hibiscus. Both were a very pleasant soft chew, quite different from other rubbery offerings. They have a sugary coating to give a bit of sweetness right away but it does quickly give way to the distinctive cannabis flavour.

The citrus from the lemon and grapefruit was strong and quite tasty. The floral notes from the lavender and hibiscus were rather subtle but still present. There was a lingering bitterness at the end with both flavours, though less so with the grapefruit.

If you are looking for a good gummy I would say look no further. Each provides 5 mg of THC, a nice little boost. I might pass on the lemon lavender again as I found the bitterness a bit too overpowering but I would happily enjoy another round of the grapefruit hibiscus.

Quick hits

👫 Cultivating couple
Smoker Farms bringing craft-style cannabis to Beaverdell with a husband-wife team growing cannabis on a small scale.
 
😮 CannTrust is back
CannTrust Holdings Inc. says Health Canada has reinstated its licenses for its Vaughan manufacturing facility, after the company was caught illegally cultivating cannabis.
 
💲Funds for Flowr
The Flowr Corporation, located in Kelowna, announced it has closed on a second tranche of funding in the amount of $500,000.

Dad jokes

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