The rise of cannabis in Canada

Each strain of cannabis contains a different ratio of CBD to THC. When recreational or medical consumers purchase cannabis from a legal producer, they receive information about the percentage of THC and CBD content so that they can better understand how they might feel after consuming a particular strain of cannabis. Providing this information is one of many ways that using the legal market empowers Canadians to consume cannabis responsibly.

Hemp is a term used to classify cannabis products that contain less than 0.3 percent of THC by dry weight. Most products classified as ‘hemp’ are agricultural products rather than pharmaceuticals or regulated substances. Hemp can be found in paper, textiles, rope, construction materials, food products, cosmetics, plastics and fuel.

Q: Why are CBD, THC, hemp and cannabis‑based products becoming so popular?

A: Since recreational cannabis was legalised in October 2018 in Canada, there has been a whole new host of legal products available to recreational consumers, with more to come mid-December as edible products start appearing in store. Legalisation has also made the consumption of cannabis products more socially acceptable and so more people are willing to try cannabis. The market is attempting to meet people where they are, whether that’s providing different ways to consume cannabis, or conducting public education campaigns about the options that exist and ways to consume safely. As Canadians get more educated about cannabis, they are also learning about the effects that cannabis can have on the body and mind.

Q: Why are CBD edibles rising in popularity?

A: The establishment of a legal market means that Canadians can have greater confidence than before that the cannabis products they consume are manufactured in facilities with 

highly regulated health and safety standards, with better quality control and accurate dosage.

Q: What kinds of regulations and legislation must you adhere to?

A: The 2018 Cannabis Act created the legal framework for Canadians to use and possess cannabis and gave provinces and territories the ability to enact their own legal framework governing recreational sales.

As a legal provider of cannabis and cannabis products, Zenabis is licensed by the federal government through Health Canada, and we must adhere to regulations around promotion and packaging.

Q: What is the most challenging part of your work?

A: This is an exciting time to be in the cannabis industry; we get to work in an innovative industry that is rapidly growing, and each day presents a new opportunity to evolve our craft and provide consumers with the safe, quality products they expect and enjoy. Here in Canada, as the first G7 country to legalise cannabis, we are creating a model for other countries to follow as they move down their own paths to legalisation. This is an incredible time for Canadian producers, because legalisation brought the opportunity to really attract some phenomenal talent and invest in growing the best product possible.

As with any new industry, there are always some challenges along the way, but we are committed to providing Canadians with an excellent product and the information they need to make decisions about what products are right for them.

Q: In such a competitive market, how do you differentiate yourself?

A: Our company is driven by four values: excellence, responsibility, compliance and delivering stakeholder value. Our customers know that when they purchase one of our products, they are getting a high-quality product that was produced in a responsible manner. They can also be confident that they are dealing with a company that adheres to all legal and professional requirements and delivers value, whether that means offering a quality product at the right price or making responsible business decisions for our shareholders.

Q: What does the future hold for the cannabis product industry?

A: With the recent legalisation of edibles and the first new edible products hitting the shelves in Canada mid-to-late December, the sky’s really the limit on how we can continue to innovate in the recreational cannabis space.