> But it’s not clear under what circumstances the companies will be able to sell the drugs<p>Only because your article wouldn’t have any bite if you told the truth.<p>It is clear. Health Canada clarified already: it’s for research and prescribed use in rather limited cases.<p>The hack author wants you to feel a narrative that they’re going to just start selling cocaine to the public.<p>> In a statement to VICE News, Health Canada said Adastra is licensed to produce the drugs for scientific and medical purposes but cannot sell products to the general public.<p>Oh, so you do know. Rendering your earlier sentence wrong. In the same article.
When I was in Peru coca tea was available everywhere for literally pennies. It is legal in most of South America. It doesn't even get you high it just sort of helps with elevation sickness.<p>This seems to upset US politicians from time to time and cause diplomatic spats, they were adamant against the sale of it despite it being traditional in that part of the world. Punitive about it.<p>Now it is legal in Canada and not a peep. Tres Bizarre.
The story evolved later that day<p><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/justin-trudeau-on-b-c-firm-s-cocaine-claim-1.6767257" rel="nofollow">https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/justin-trude...</a>
One of them had to retract their statement after it caught the attention of the province’s prime minister as well as the federal prime minister.<p>link: <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/justin-trudeau-on-b-c-firm-s-cocaine-claim-1.6767257" rel="nofollow">https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/justin-trude...</a>
Any luck they'll create something like a Managed Alcohol Program: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Managed_alcohol_program" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Managed_alcohol_program</a><p>Unclear what benefit there is to stopping people addicted to opiates getting those opiates cleanly and cheaply.
The provincial health care system in British Columbia already sources drugs like mdma, heroin, and cocaine. This is part of the “safe supply” program which is in a weird legal gray area. As far as Im aware, the current suppliers of safe supply narcotics are drug dealers. So this is a much better alternative.
Is this really news? There have always been a couple of companies given license to produce such things for various narrow purposes.<p>Cocaine is used as an anesthetic in some nasal and eye surgeries for example. Research and testing purposes also need clean standards to use for comparison.
Good thing we don't allow this in the US! Wait a sec...<p><a href="https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/product/cerillian/m009" rel="nofollow">https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/product/cerillian/m009</a>
Oddly, this may create problems for end-users that are currently able to acquire these substances through a prescription through the "Special Access Program", which grants the ability to import drugs not available in Canada, which means your choice of suppliers.<p>If there is a domestic licensed supplier, and only one, Health Canada will likely force you to go through them and pay whatever they ask.
<p><pre><code> “They are only permitted for sale to other licence holders who have cocaine listed on
their licence, pharmacists, practitioners, hospitals, or the holder of a section 56(1)
exemption for research purposes,” the agency said.
</code></pre>
Wonder if "research tourism" is expected to become a thing? ;)
CANADIAN companies.<p>"A Canadian weed company and a psychedelics company have received government licenses to make and distribute the drugs under certain circumstances."