Taken from:
http://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2013/2013-06-19/html/sor-dors119-eng.php#archived
"Issue: Marihuana-infused products should be allowed under the MMPR
Some potential licence producers expressed their dissatisfaction with the fact that under the proposed MMPR, marihuana will be available in dried form only and criticized the lack of product alternatives as a limitation on client choice. Some felt that the restriction to dried marihuana deprived registered clients and patients of access to marihuana in forms that may be preferred in terms of desired effects, routes of administration (e.g. ingestion or topical) and “dosage.” They noted that some users of marihuana for medical purposes may prefer marihuana-based products that are ingested or applied topically to those used primarily via inhalation, given the known dangers of smoking.
Department of Health response
The new Regulations will limit licensed producers to the production and distribution of dried marihuana only. The MMPR will not authorize extractions of active ingredients (e.g. resin) to be sold for the therapeutic purposes. The only clinical studies on the therapeutic uses of marihuana that have been carried out to date have only used dried marihuana that was either smoked or vaporized. There are no clinical studies on the use of cannabis edible (e.g. cookies, baked goods) or topical products for therapeutic purposes. As with other drugs, all products that claim to have a health benefit must first go through the drug approval process as outlined in the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR). The limited clinical data that exists is restricted to dried marihuana that was either smoked or vaporized and to cannabinoid-based medicines (dronabinol, nabilone, and nabiximols) that have gone through the appropriate drug approval channels. Under the MMPR, licensed producers will be required to include information leaflets prepared by Health Canada which warn consumers of the adverse effects of using marihuana.
There are no restrictions on how dried marihuana is to be ingested or inhaled, and patients may choose to use it, for example in foods or by vaporizing. HC does not limit or recommend a particular method of administration."
