Edible Marijuana Products Get The 'Okay' In Canada

In 2009, a Canadian baker named Owen Smith was charged with trafficking and unlawful possession of marijuana for using cannabis oil to bake pot cookies.

Smith was later acquitted, but a larger question loomed as to whether or not dispensaries in Canada should allow medical marijuana to be delivered in ways other than smoking.

Edibles Allowed

Six years later, Canada's Supreme Court has ruled that medical marijuana can come in all forms, including cannabis oil which can be baked into food products. The ruling reflects the changing culture of marijuana use, which has shifted from a focus on smoking to ingesting, which is considered "healthier."

Encouraging Growth In Edibles Market

The ruling in Canada is likely to spur on the blossoming edibles market, which has taken off in U.S. states like Colorado, where recreational marijuana use is legal. Now, medical marijuana patients suffering from conditions like epilepsy and HIV will have access to everything from pot-laced brownies to marijuana-infused tea.

Related Link: Marijuana's Tax Problem

Still Safety Concerns

While the Canadian Supreme Court's decision is intended to protect patients who use the drug to manage their symptoms, many worry that the growing edibles market is becoming increasingly dangerous.

Although strict regulations typically require marijuana-laced products to include clear warning labels and child-proof packaging, the number of accidental marijuana exposures in young children has been on the rise.

Not only are children being rushed to the emergency room after unknowingly consuming a THC-laced treat, but some say adults are also at risk. Because ingesting marijuana as a food product can sometimes delay the effects, people are more likely to overdose from having too many servings.