A Langley-based cannabis company香蕉视频直播檚 announcement that it has received federal government permission to produce up to 250 grams of cocaine caused a political furor in B.C. on Thursday, but the company won香蕉视频直播檛 be selling it to the public.

A press release issued Feb. 22 said that last year, Adastra Holdings received an amendment to its Controlled Drug and Substance Dealer香蕉视频直播檚 Licence that allowed it to 香蕉视频直播渋nteract with香蕉视频直播� up to 250 grams of cocaine, and to import coca leaves to manufacture and synthesize cocaine.

The licence was originally granted last year, and allowed Adastra to produce psilocybin and psilocin, the substances found in 香蕉视频直播渕agic mushrooms.香蕉视频直播� Those types of psychoactive drugs are being increasingly used in therapeutic contexts, largely in ongoing studies.

Although the licence was issued by Health Canada, a federal agency, the press release references the recent decriminalization in B.C. of small amounts of hard drugs for personal use. The decriminalization, authorized by Ottawa, is aimed at reducing overdose deaths, and does not legalize the sale or production of cocaine, heroin, or fentanyl.

香蕉视频直播淗arm reduction is a critically important and mainstream topic, and we are staying at the forefront of drug regulations across the board,香蕉视频直播� said Michael Forbes, CEO of Adastra said in the release. 香蕉视频直播淲e proactively pursued the amendment to our Dealer香蕉视频直播檚 Licence to include cocaine back in December 2022. We will evaluate how the commercialization of this substance fits in with our business model at Adastra in an effort to position ourselves to support the demand for a safe supply of cocaine.香蕉视频直播�

Cloverdale-Langley City MP John Aldag spoke with officials at Health Canada, and confirmed that the cocaine is not intended for commercial sale, but for research purposes.

香蕉视频直播淭hey cannot sell the products directly to the general public,香蕉视频直播� he said.

A statement from Health Canada on Friday, March 3 clarified the scope of Adastra香蕉视频直播檚 licence.

香蕉视频直播淎dastra Labs is licensed by Health Canada for this controlled substance for scientific and medical purposes only,香蕉视频直播� the statement said. They can only sell to other labs that have identical licences, pharmacists, hospitals, or holders of a special government exemption for research purposes.

香蕉视频直播淗ealth Canada has contacted the company to reiterate the very narrow parameters of their licence,香蕉视频直播� the statement said. 香蕉视频直播淚f the strict requirements are not being followed, Health Canada will not hesitate to take action, which may include revoking the licence.香蕉视频直播�

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The announcement, particularly Forbes香蕉视频直播� suggestion that cocaine production would be commercialized, drew swift reaction from multiple B.C. politicians.

NDP Premier David Eby was asked about the announcement and how it fit into the government香蕉视频直播檚 approach to mental health and addictions.

香蕉视频直播淭he short answer is that I was astonished by this announcement,香蕉视频直播� Eby said at a press conference on Thursday.

香蕉视频直播淚t is not part of our provincial plan,香蕉视频直播� Eby continued. 香蕉视频直播淚f Health Canada did in fact do this, they did it no only without engaging with the province, but without notice to us.香蕉视频直播�

He said they would get answers from Health Canada about the issue.

BC Liberal leader Kevin Falcon also raised the issue during in the Legislature, asking 香蕉视频直播渨hat on Earth is going on here?香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淣ow, since the NDP decriminalized hard drugs like cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine, this company香蕉视频直播檚 stock price has doubled,香蕉视频直播� Falcon said later in the debate. 香蕉视频直播淏ut let香蕉视频直播檚 be really clear here. Cocaine isn香蕉视频直播檛 prescribed. It isn香蕉视频直播檛 safe. This is wrong. Commercializing cocaine as a business opportunity amounts to legalizing cocaine trafficking, full stop. So why has this Premier allowed for the commercialization of cocaine?香蕉视频直播�

Solicitor General Mike Farnworth replied for the government, defending the new regulations that decriminalize small amounts of hard drugs for personal use, while also indicating that the NDP didn香蕉视频直播檛 condone or plan to authorize commercial sales of cocaine.

香蕉视频直播淭his is not and never has been about legalizing cocaine or encouraging it for commercial distribution, despite whatever the member香蕉视频直播檚 reading from香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈�� Farnworth said, before noise in the Legislature cut him off.

Later, responding to Liberal MLA Elenore Sturko, Farnworth said whatever licence Adastra had was not done in consultation with the province, and decriminalization aside, cocaine remains an illegal substance.

香蕉视频直播淲e do not support the commercialization of cocaine in British Columbia or the country,香蕉视频直播� Farnworth said. 香蕉视频直播淚f the federal government has granted a licence, then they should be taking it up with the federal government. They香蕉视频直播檙e the ones who made that licence.香蕉视频直播�

Licences to produce psychoactive drugs like psylocibin have only recently been granted as the drugs are being increasingly used in a therapeutic context. They are not for sale commercially like cannabis or alcohol.