BC Premier ‘Astonished’ Firm Got Health Canada Approval to Make and Sell Cocaine

British Columbia Premier David Eby stated that he was “astonished” Health Canada grants a cannabis company permission for the possession, production and distribution of cocaine.

Adastra Labs, Langley B.CAccording to a news release,. Health Canada announced that it approved on February 17 an amendment in its license for controlled substance dealers.

Eby stated that “if Health Canada did in reality do this”The federal agency took the decision without consulting the B.C. Notifying the provincial government

The premier To get answers, the province will contact Health Canada.

He stated that “it is not part of the provincial plan.” This refers to ongoing efforts to lower the overdose death rate, which is an average of six deaths per day. B.C. In 2022.

Health Canada has not responded to our request for comment.

In 2005, 2.5 grams of cocaine and up to 2.5 grams of marijuana were illegal. B.C. January 31st, when the federal government approved the decriminalization exemption. This was one of many steps taken to address the crisis.

More than 11,000 people have died from illicit overdoses since 2016, when British Columbia declared an emergency. Deaths from the most widely used illicit drug, fentanyl has seen a significant increase in recent years.

Adastra stated in the statement, that the amended licence allows the company. “interact with” You can get up to 250g of cocaine. To make the drug, you will need to import coca leaves.

Adastra CEO Michael Forbes stated that Adastra will evaluate whether the commercialization is compatible within its business model in order to support the demand for cocaine safe supply.

Forbes stated harm reduction is an important topic, and that Forbes will continue his leadership in drug regulation. “We pursued proactively the amendment of our Dealer’s License to add cocaine back in December 2022.”

Adastra brought up the topic of Adastra changing its license to include cocaine during The Questions. B.C. Kevin Falcon, Opposition leader, criticised the move in legislation

Falcon stated that cocaine was not prescribed and isn’t safe. “Commercializing cocaine for a business opportunity amounts essentially to legalizing cocaine trafficking, complete stop.”

Kevin Hollett is the spokesperson for The B.C. Centre on Substance Use, replied that they knew “very little” About Adastra’s exclusion.

Hollett stated, B.C. The July 2021 safe-supply policy was focused on opioids.

He stated that “to my knowledge, BC’s prescribed safer supply is focused on opioids.”