(Langley) British Columbia Premier David Eby says he is “surprised” that Health Canada has granted a cannabis company the right to possess, produce, sell and distribute cocaine.
Adastra Labs said in a statement that Health Canada gave it approval on Feb. 17 for an amendment to its controlled substance reseller license.
According to Eby, “if Health Canada did” make this decision, the federal agency did so without engaging or notifying the provincial government.
At a news conference Thursday on overdose prevention and mental health funding, the premier said the province will contact Health Canada for answers.
“It’s not part of our provincial plan,” he said, referring to ongoing efforts to stem the overdose death rate, with an average of more than six people dying every day in British Columbia, in 2022.
Health Canada did not respond to requests for comment.
Decriminalization of certain products up to 2.5 grams, including cocaine, began in British Columbia on January 31, after the federal government approved the exemption as part of a plan to tackle the crisis overdoses that killed thousands of people in the province.
More than 11,000 people have died from illicit drug overdoses since British Columbia declared a public health emergency in 2016. Deaths have soared as fentanyl has become the top illicit drug.
Adastra Labs says the amended license allows it to “interact” with up to 250 grams of cocaine and import coca leaves in order to manufacture and synthesize the substance.
Adastra CEO Michael Forbes said he will assess how the commercialization of the substance fits into his model in an effort to position himself to meet demand for a safe supply of cocaine.
Mr. Forbes says that “harm reduction is a topic of critical and ongoing importance,” and that the company remains at the forefront of drug regulation.
Decriminalization of certain products up to 2.5 grams, including cocaine, began in British Columbia on January 31, after the federal government approved the exemption as part of a plan to tackle the crisis. overdoses that killed thousands of people in the province.