Cannabis edibles are legal in Quebec starting Dec. 5, but people won’t be able to get their hands on them until Jan 1.

The delay will come despite no penalties from the province’s pot regulator, Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC), if anyone does sell products starting Dec. 5.

“Edibles are not a race,” SQDC spokesperson Fabrice Giguère told the Montreal Gazette.

“We want to make sure all the logistical impediments are sewn up, that production capacity is up and running. We’re working on what kinds of products we’ll have, prices, and how we’ll display the prices in our stores. We want to make sure everything is in place for the launch of these products in January.”

The rollout will begin with non-alcoholic cannabis-infused beverages and hash, but SQDC is still deciding which products it will approve.

“It’s going to be a slow start, not the huge rollout we had in October 2018,” Giguère said. “We’re going to begin to have products as the year goes, and as capacities of producers are being built up.”

Right now, no food products are allowed and the incoming edibles cannot contain anything besides THC “to strengthen intoxicating psychological effects of cannabis.”

Candy-like cannabis edibles won’t be sold in Quebec. Richard Vogel / Associated Press

The regulations also ban any “sweets, confectionary, dessert, chocolate or any other product attractive to persons under 21 years of age.”

And starting Jan. 1, the province will restrict the use and purchase of cannabis to people at least 21-years-old.

Critics say the underground market will benefit from the tight rules and lack of cannabis-infused food.

“The Quebec government made a choice and wants to send a really strong message to young people and protect our youth by making sure we don’t sell these products to kids,” Giguère said.

“We’re the retailer. We apply the laws that have been voted and adopted. That’s why we’re not selling those products.”