However, their manufacturer is trying to obtain a cannabis producer's license
A company that is trying to become an authorized pot manufacturer has manufactured cannabis banners banned by Health Canada that are still on store shelves.
The smokers' accessories store Anything on King Street in Sherbrooke sells lollipops containing 50 and 100 mg of CBD (a substance derived from cannabis) identified with the company MYM Neutraceutical and its brand Joshua Tree.
Only producers authorized by Health Canada can sell oils or dried cannabis containing CBD to patients who have medical prescriptions. But the sale of edible products remains illegal, says the federal agency.
The shop owner told us that the CBD lollipops were sold legally because they are hemp-based. It is a cannabis strain that contains little THC.
However, Health Canada and the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance confirm that it is also forbidden to sell hemp products that contain CBD.
Health Canada has been made aware of the situation. "The Ministry [of Health] sent a warning letter to the company reminding them that it is illegal to sell, without a license ... products containing CBD," Tammy Jarbeau said. of Health Canada.
Unlicensed
MYM is still waiting for its license from Health Canada for its two pot growing sites in Quebec, Laval and Weedon in Estrie.
"MYM does not manufacture or sell Joshua Tree products anymore," said MYM Communications Manager Robin Linden. We stopped making them in order to bring them into compliance with the new laws [C45 on the legalization of cannabis]. "
We learn on the MYM website that the production was "suspended" on May 18th. However, the company and its spokesperson did not mention the warning letter.
"The pacifier is an old product that is no longer manufactured," said Linden.
Although CBD sweets were never allowed, the company said last January in a statement that its brand had recorded a sales increase of 850% over the last 10 months.
As recently as January 2018, in its executive summary, the company explained that it had three brands of CBD products including a range of CBD oil for animals (also prohibited).
Ambitious plans
In 2017, the Joshua Tree brand earned $ 800,000 in sales and the forecast for 2018 is $ 2.8 million.
We also found Joshua Tree products on three websites of illegal online clinics.
On the Facebook page of the Sherbrooke store, it is indicated on May 10 that the jujubes at CBD (also banned) are back on the shelves. The lollipops are also back in store since April 19th.
Even though cannabis will be legalized in 2018, cannabis edible products will not be legal until 2019.
MYM Neutraceutical is not at its first misstep. The company headquartered in Vancouver is hoping to receive two cannabis licenses from Health Canada in Quebec for its proposed facilities in Laval and Weedon.
Our Investigation Office revealed that the company was promoting its project in Weedon by falsely claiming that Yann Lafleur, president of its Quebec subsidiary CannaCanada, was the nephew of "Canadian hockey superstar Guy Lafleur".
We also uncovered a potential conflict of interest involving Fabian Garcia, former deputy CEO of Weedon Municipality, who was the business partner of Antonio Bramante, a CannaCanada shareholder. Mr. Bramante has a criminal record.
Mr. Garcia has since been hired by MYM to lead the Weedon project. A numbered company was set up for this purpose on 24 April. Mr. Garcia is appointed as president and MYM is a shareholder.
Land purchased
Although the company is still waiting for its license, it bought a couple of days ago two neighboring lands in agricultural area in the municipality of Weedon, for about $ 660,000. MYM will install 1.5 million square foot cannabis greenhouses.
It was the City that negotiated this transaction and signed a promise to purchase in May 2017.
MYM also announced a few days ago that it hired greenhouse experts to oversee the production of cannabis.
The Weedon project, valued at $ 200 million and which promises to create 400 jobs, is a dream for the small municipality of 2500 inhabitants.
In addition to the cultivation of therapeutic cannabis, the project includes a tourist hub around cannabis, a museum, a cafeteria, a restaurant, a hotel, a clinic and a center for research and innovation on cannabis.
If MYM does not obtain its license, the project could be compromised.