BC Premier shocked firm given permission to produce and sell cocaine by Health Canada.

The Premier of British Columbia, David Eby, expressed disbelief that a cannabis company has been granted permission by Health Canada to possess, produce, sell and distribute cocaine. The company in question, Adastra Labs, announced that it was given approval on Feb. 17 as part of an amendment to its controlled substance dealer’s licence. Eby stated that Health Canada had not consulted the British Columbian government or notified the province of the decision, and that the government will be requesting answers from Health Canada. The move comes shortly after the decriminalization of drugs, including cocaine, in British Columbia from Jan. 31, 2022. The number of drug-related fatalities in British Columbia has soared to over 11,000 since a public health emergency was declared in 2016, with the opioid fentanyl being a major contributor to the crisis. Adastra CEO Michael Forbes said that the company would assess the commercialization of the substance within its business model, in order to support the demand for a safe supply of cocaine. Opposition leader Kevin Falcon objected to the move, stating that it amounted to legalizing cocaine trafficking. Health Canada has yet to comment on this issue.