Health Canada to start testing cannabis vape emissions from products already on market Social Sharing

Agency tells CBC News it’s ‘expanding’ its ‘laboratory capability’

Health Canada says it’s preparing to test the health effects of inhaling substances emitted from cannabis vaping products that are already legally for sale in Canada.

Agency spokesperson Eric Morrissette said in a statement this week it has “research underway” on the emissions of nicotine e-cigarettes and is now “expanding” its “laboratory capability” to include the testing of cannabis vapes as well. 

The statement comes after CBC News reported the federal health agency does not conduct emissions testing on cannabis vapes and one company pre-emptively pulled its product over health and safety concerns. 

Cannabis vapes are among a series of new products — including edibles, extracts and topicals such as lotions — that can be legally sold in Canada as of Tuesday.

Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec have outright banned the sale of cannabis vapes, and Nova Scotia will not allow flavoured versions. 

The products have not yet appeared in legal cannabis stores or websites in Canada, but Health Minister Patty Hajdu said Tuesday they can now be legally sold by authorized retailers under “strict rules.”  [Read More @ CBC]