It’s what cannabis enthusiasts and philosophy majors alike have been waiting months for – cannabis edibles have arrived in Canada.

Well, almost. While regulations for cannabis edibles and topicals are in full swing, products are expected to hit shelves next month. Here’s what you consumers and parents should know about the upcoming wave of edible weed products.

What are cannabis edibles?

Edibles is an overarching term for products that have been infused with cannabis. It umbrellas over a wide range of potential edible cannabis products, including drinks like coffee or tea, candies, dissolvable stripes, baked goods, etc. Topicals range from lotions to balms to oils, and primarily focus on pain and inflammation relief.

For people that want to enjoy the effects of cannabis without subjecting their lungs to smoke, edibles are a non-invasive alternative. Edible users should understand that the dosages in edibles are typically far more potent than smoking a joint, pipe, or bong, and the effects last much longer. The effects of edibles aren’t immediate like smoking cannabis; effects can kick in anywhere from half an hour post-consumption to up to four hours.

If you’re new to edibles, remember to start low, and go slow.

Do I personally need to be concerned with any cannabis regulations?

As long as you’re not opening your own cannabis shop in Canada, you’re free to buy to your heart’s content once edibles hit the shelves.

Products that reach market will adhere to strict regulations and a 60-to-90-day approval and procurement process.

Health Canada says they’ve created a “strict legal framework to regulate and restrict access to cannabis keeping it out of the hands of youth, and profits out of the pockets of criminals and organized crime.”

Where can I get them? And when?

With products expected to hit the market mid-December – at the earliest – it’s still up in the air as to where cannabis edibles will be available in each province.

Depending on your residency, you may be able to grab edibles from your local licensed cannabis retailer, Crown companies like the LCBO, or via online order.

As to what sort of edibles will be available first – will it be drinks? Gummies? Cookies? – that’ll simply depend on the focus of individual companies and provinces.

Will cannabis edibles be available in Ontario?

You bet! In fact, the only province that loses out on cannabis edibles is Quebec, with the provincial government focused on public health issues before the economy. The province will offer edible cannabis oils and butters, or products that don’t appeal to younger demographics.

While you wait for your favourite cannabis edibles to hit stores, you can brew your own cannabis-infused drinks in the meantime! Check out our cannabis-infused recipe section for some inspiration, or grab some of our gourmet coffee that’s been sourced to infuse or pair with CBD oils and cannabis strains, respectively.