Health Canada has approved a series of amendments to the Cannabis Act aimed at making research and testing easier, while also raising possession limits for cannabis beverages to align them with other product categories such as edibles.
Adults may now carry up to 17.1 litres (equivalent to 48 x 355ml cans) of cannabis beverages in public for non-medical purposes. This is a significant increase from the previous allowance of approximately 2.1 litres, or around five 355ml cans.
Existing safeguards against accidental and excess consumption — including child-resistant packaging and per-container THC limits — have not been altered.
The amendments also revise the way Health Canada oversees non-therapeutic cannabis research involving human participants, simplifying the process while keeping health and safety protections in place.
Under the new rules, analytical testing licence holders, as well as federal and provincial government laboratories, are permitted to produce, distribute, and sell reference standards and test kits, broadening access to testing materials and a quality-controlled supply.
The changes also widen the eligible educational qualifications for the Head of Laboratory role — a position required for an analytical testing licence and responsible for overseeing all cannabis testing activities at a licensed site.
Transition periods have been introduced to limit disruption for existing licence holders carrying out research and for beverage producers.
In a statement, the regulator said: "The Cannabis Act serves as a flexible legislative framework that adapts and responds to the needs of Canadians.
"Health Canada will continue to engage with stakeholders and pursue initiatives to address ongoing and emerging public health and safety issues to improve the cannabis framework so that it meets the needs of Canadians while continuing to displace the illicit market."
The Cannabis Act, which legalised and regulated the production, distribution, sale, import/export, and possession of cannabis, took effect in October 2018.
The government launched an independent review of the act in September this year, with a final report expected by early 2024.
Separately, regulators in Connecticut have confirmed that retail recreational cannabis sales will get underway in the new year, with roughly half of the state's medical cannabis operators expanding to serve the newly opened market.
Connecticut became the 18th US state to legalise adult use in June 2021.