Canada Updates Cannabis Law, Limits on Marijuana Beverages Tightened

Dec.14.2022
Canada Updates Cannabis Law, Limits on Marijuana Beverages Tightened
Canada updates Cannabis Act, with tighter limits on cannabis beverages and eased research requirements.

The Canadian Ministry of Health has completed revisions to the Cannabis Act, which now includes increased restrictions on the possession of cannabis beverages and relaxed requirements for research and testing.


According to an announcement by the Canadian Department of Health on December 9th, the amendment came into effect on December 2nd.


A copy of the final regulation and a statement on regulatory impact and analysis will be published in the second section of the Canada Gazette on December 21.


According to the announcement, the amendment incorporates feedback from stakeholders in the cannabis industry, universities, researchers, health authorities, trade associations, licensees, provinces, regions, and the public.


A new regulation has been implemented to increase public possession restrictions on marijuana drinks in order to align with other marijuana products. Adults are now allowed to possess a maximum of 17.1 liters (equivalent to 48,355 milliliter cans) for non-medical purposes.


Under previous Canadian regulations, adults were allowed to possess approximately 2.1 liters of cannabis beverage or roughly five 355-milliliter cans.


These amendments also aim to simplify marijuana research by altering the requirements for non-therapeutic studies involving human participants.


In addition, the new regulations allow holders of analytical testing licenses as well as federal and provincial government labs to produce, distribute and sell reference standards and testing kits in order to increase access to cannabis testing materials.


The amendment also expands the educational qualification requirements for laboratory directors, who hold a mandatory position in analytical testing laboratories responsible for all cannabis testing activities at the facility.


These latest amendments are part of Canada's ongoing efforts to improve the Cannabis Act, which came into effect in October 2018 and aims to legalize the production, distribution, sale, and possession of cannabis for adults aged 21 and over.


In September, the Canadian government announced that it has initiated a necessary review of the Cannabis Act to assess its impact on the illegal market, indigenous communities, and the economy.


Last month, government officials appointed a five-member expert panel responsible for conducting reviews.


The group will ultimately present recommendations to Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Deputy Minister of Health Carolyn Bennett on progress towards achieving the objectives of the Cannabis Act, which include protecting the health and safety of Canadians, establishing a diverse and competitive legal industry to replace the illegal market, and identifying areas for legal improvement.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

South Korea’s New Vape Rules Raise Bar for E-Liquid Makers and China-Linked Supply Chains, Expert Says
South Korea’s New Vape Rules Raise Bar for E-Liquid Makers and China-Linked Supply Chains, Expert Says
South Korea’s new vape regulations are reshaping the e-liquid market, raising compliance requirements for manufacturers, retailers and overseas suppliers. In an interview with 2Firsts, Korean nicotine products specialist Sam Kim discusses licensing barriers, inventory impacts, China-linked supply chains, and emerging regulatory challenges around nicotine analogues, nicotine-free products and DIY mixing. The Korean case may offer broader insights as governments worldwide adapt to rapidly evolving nicotine products.
Jul.16
Tasmania Reports Annual Enforcement Results: 5.5 Million Illegal Cigarettes and Nearly 30,000 Vapes Seized, With IGET Products Visible in Official Images
Tasmania Reports Annual Enforcement Results: 5.5 Million Illegal Cigarettes and Nearly 30,000 Vapes Seized, With IGET Products Visible in Official Images
Tasmania reported its 2025/26 illicit tobacco enforcement results on July 14, with authorities seizing about 5.5 million illegal cigarettes, more than 2,500 kilograms of loose tobacco and nearly 30,000 vapes.
Jul.15
Trump’s Tobacco Investments and Industry Donations Draw Scrutiny as FDA Eases Vape and Nicotine Pouch Rules
Trump’s Tobacco Investments and Industry Donations Draw Scrutiny as FDA Eases Vape and Nicotine Pouch Rules
A report by KFF Health News says that as the Trump administration pursued a series of policies favorable to the nicotine and tobacco industry, President Donald Trump increased his holdings in tobacco companies while benefiting from substantial industry-linked political donations, prompting questions from public health advocates about potential conflicts of interest and regulatory direction.
Jun.12
PMI’s ZYN Launches Loyalty Platform in Mexico, Tapping World Cup Viewing Scenes for Nicotine Pouch Marketing
PMI’s ZYN Launches Loyalty Platform in Mexico, Tapping World Cup Viewing Scenes for Nicotine Pouch Marketing
PMI’s nicotine pouch brand ZYN has launched the ZYN Club loyalty platform in Mexico and introduced ZYN Live Stadium viewing experiences around football matches, showing how nicotine pouch brands are using rewards, limited benefits and offline consumption settings to reach adult consumers.
Jun.29
Argentina Updates Health Warning Rules to Include Vapes and Nicotine Pouches
Argentina Updates Health Warning Rules to Include Vapes and Nicotine Pouches
Argentina’s Ministry of Health has updated its health warning rules for tobacco and nicotine products, adding e-cigarettes, vapes, heated tobacco products, sticks and nicotine pouches to mandatory warning requirements.
Jul.08
Australia’s Daily Smoking Rate Falls to Record Low of 5.8% as Nicotine Use Patterns Shift
Australia’s Daily Smoking Rate Falls to Record Low of 5.8% as Nicotine Use Patterns Shift
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s National Drug Strategy Household Survey, daily smoking among Australians aged 18 and over fell to a record low of 5.8% in 2025. Health Minister Mark Butler said Australia now has around 500,000 fewer daily smokers than three years ago and credited the government’s vaping reforms as part of broader progress. Among people aged 14 and over, daily smoking declined from 8.3% in 2022-23 to 5.6% in 2025. Daily vaping rates stabilised at 3.6%, while the government also moved to further restrict access to nicotine pouches through unapproved therapeutic import pathways.
Jul.21