No, a BC Company Can’t Sell You Cocaine Now

published on March 6, 2023 by Moira Wyton in The Tyee

British Columbians who tuned into the news Thursday might have gone to bed that night thinking they could soon be buying cocaine as easily as they can purchase a beer.

In question period at the legislature Thursday morning the BC Liberals grilled the government about Langley-based cannabis company Adastra Holdings’ Feb. 22 announcement had been granted federal permission to “legally possess, produce, sell and distribute” cocaine.

At the time, the publicly traded company said it wished to position itself to align with ongoing harm reduction efforts and to “meet the demand for a safe supply of cocaine.”

“Cocaine isn’t prescribed, it isn’t safe, and this is wrong,” said leader of the Opposition Kevin Falcon in the legislature. “Commercializing cocaine as a business opportunity amounts to legalizing cocaine trafficking, full stop.”…