“Charting a Course” for the Use of Cannabis in Cosmetics

Posted Date: 11-September-2019

Posted By:  Amy Sutherland

 

The legalization of cannabis in Canada has created an exgalleryciting dialogue about the potential opportunity for growth and innovation in the health & wellness and beauty sectors.
Health Canada recently undertook a preliminary consultation on the “Potential Market for Cannabis Health Products” which is intended to identify the interest in and potential scope of “Cannabis Health Products” (or CHPs) in Canada. To gage member interest and inform our submission, Cosmetics Alliance (CA) hosted a Cannabis Member Briefing & Strategy Planning Session on August 27 at the offices of KAO Canada Inc in Mississauga which attracted almost 70 participants.
The purpose of the session was to: 1. review the history and current regulatory pathway for cannabis products in Canada; 2. identify the business opportunities and regulatory strategies for self-care products containing cannabis and, 3. discuss the CHP Consultation.
CA members expressed a keen interest in developing products containing cannabidiol (CBD) and other “active” cannabinoids derived from cannabis. CA members also agreed that topical products containing cannabis and cannabis derived ingredients for non-recreational purposes should be termed “Cannabis Self-Care Products” and should have a different pathway to market from recreational, medicinal and prescription cannabis products outside of the Cannabis Act. Currently, topical products containing cannabis or cannabinoid extracts for “non-recreational use” do NOT have a legal pathway to market in Canada.
CA’s comments on the consultation can be found here. Our input reflects two important points:
  1. Self-Care products containing cannabis – whether they be cosmetics, non-prescription drugs, or NHPs – should be regulated under the Food & Drugs Act ONLY and NOT the Cannabis Act.
  2. Once Health Canada’s Self-Care Products Framework is implemented, Cannabis self-care products should fall under the new Framework just like any other self-care product treating minor health ailments or providing cosmetic benefits.