The seizure of the illegal cannabis products began on February 28 when police observed a suspect making a suspicious transaction at a commercial building in the area of Keele Street and Steeles Avenue West.
The suspect was arrested after he was found to be in possession of $6,000 and 400 grams of cannabis flower. The arrest of 42-year-old Emil Mikhailov, who was charged with cannabis distribution related offenses was then followed up with search warrants executed on the commercial building and a dispensary on 191 Baldwin Rd. in Toronto.
Police seized $ $1.7 million worth of illegal cannabis and cannabis products include gummy bears, chocolate bars, lollipops, and cotton candy. (See the video, above released by the York Regional Police). York Police issued a warning to the public, reminding everyone that the Cannabis Act legalizes fresh cannabis, dried cannabis, cannabis oil and plants, and seeds for cultivation.
The Cannabis Act does not legalize the production, selling or consumption of cannabis-related edibles. To date, there are no regulations governing the dosage and potency of cannabis in edibles.
“The number one reason police are issuing this warning is these products are still illegal and number two is this is the first time we’re seeing products that appear to look so much like candy so of course children will be drawn to them,” Const. Andy Pattenden said in a telephone interview with CTV News Canada.
Beyond the pipe: Cannabis edibles
The police are warning users and parents to please keep these products out of the reach of children, and this should apply to adults. It is understandable that some adult cannabis users may not want to smoke or vape – and the ideal alternative would be to use CBD oil or try edibles.
The thing is – while we may have the most advanced technologies available for making sure the correct dosage and potency of marijuana in your edibles will be consistent – the product still has to pass through the stomach, and this slows the effects of cannabis down.
Medical science and technology cannot change this perfectly normal physiological process. The effects of smoking marijuana only take minutes. Edibles, however, take between 1-3 hours because the food is absorbed into the bloodstream through the liver.
And this is the danger. Because it takes longer for an edible to digest, the user may end up consuming more edibles than they need because they think the drug isn’t working. Overdose symptoms from eating marijuana are often more severe than symptoms of an overdose from smoking marijuana.
