Quebec’s public-health directors are warning that the provincial government’s proposed regulations restricting edible cannabis products contain “grey areas … that undermine the effectiveness” of the new rules.

In July, the Coalition Avenir Québec government announced that it will ban the sale of cannabis-based chocolates, candies and “any other product attractive to minors.” However, the draft regulations do not specifically prohibit the sale of cannabis-infused soft drinks and juices and, in fact, would “establish that an edible cannabis product in liquid form cannot contain THC (the main active ingredient) that is greater than 5 milligrams per package.”

For the province’s 18 directors of public health, allowing cannabis-infused drinks would be far too tempting for young Quebecers.

“The rapid development of the cannabis industry and the presence of beverage companies … in the field of cannabis suggest that these products will assume great significance in the near future,” the directors conclude in a position paper made public Monday.

“According to a market study, 37 per cent of the population wants to use these drinks,” the directors noted. “In order not to encourage the initiation and use of cannabis among young people, we recommend specifically prohibiting sugary drinks containing cannabis. Indeed, like alcoholic-sweetened beverages, these high-sugar products are more likely to be desirable for young people.”

Coca-Cola, the world’s largest beverage company, is considering a move into cannabis-infused drinks in what is already being marketed as “functional wellness beverages.” Such drinks would include the ingredient Cannabidiol, or CBD, which does not produce a high in the user and is taken for medical purposes to ease inflammation, pain and nausea.

Meanwhile, a newly-formed lobby group has asked Health Canada to be permitted to use packaging similar to traditional-looking wine bottles for cannabis-infused alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. And in April, Moosehead Breweries formed a joint venture with Sproutly Canada Inc. to produce non-alcoholic drinks using Sproutly’s water-soluble cannabinoids.

The two companies say their beverages will be able to deliver the effects of cannabis in as little as five minutes and could last up to 90 minutes, providing an experience similar to smoking the drug.

The federal government legalized recreational cannabis in October 2018, but edibles and other products were not added to the legislation. As of Oct. 17, however, cannabis edibles and other products will be made legal, with the items becoming available in December. Nonetheless, the provinces are free to regulate those products.

When junior health minister Lionel Carmant unveiled the provincial draft regulations on July 24, he criticized the federal measures as being “insufficient to meet Quebec’s objectives in public health and safety.” Carmant added that Quebec’s regulations would prevent children from ingesting cannabis-infused jujubes and other candies.

Maude Faniel-Métho, Carmant’s press attaché, told the Montreal Gazette the minister will not comment on any recommendations — including whether to ban cannabis-infused drinks — during the 45-day consultation process. The government is expected to adopt the regulations by November.

Among the other recommendations by the public-health directors, the government must clearly define what is considered a cannabis edible that is “attractive to minors” and to have the health ministry determine which cannabis products can be sold in Quebec.