As legal Cannabis edibles begin to infiltrate Canadian markets, we’re seeing a wide variety of new products infused with THC, the active ingredient. The problem is, where do we draw the line between novelty and ‘too much of a good thing’? And should some products not be infused at all?
Potli’s new Cannabis Infused Sriracha Sauce looks and tastes just like the
‘unfortified’ kind. Might it be mistaken for the ‘harmless’ variety?
My Food News wires brought me word of another Cannabis-infused product this morning: Sriracha Sauce. My first thought was, “This could be a big hit with the right target demographic.” Then, I realized,”This stuff could be dangerous to have around the house!”
Potli Cannabis Infused Sriracha is not yet available in Canada. Distribution is solely through California Cannabis ‘Dispensaries’. But it’s only a matter of time before it shows up here.
Pranksters
My first fear was that pranksters would use the stuff to insinuate THC into the food they serve others. But the stuff doesn’t need something as hot and spicy as Sriracha to hide its flavour. Maybe that notion was a bit of a knee-jerk. But stranger things have happened.
Unintended, unwelcome side effects
Then I thought, “Who measures out the amount of Sriracha Sauce they put on their food?” It could be easy to overdose if a diner’s accustomed splash of Sauce was in excess of what the makers intended. And the stuff is advertised as being nano-emulsified, so it’s twice as fast acting as regular Cannabis infused foods and beverages. Potli says you’ll feel the effects just 15 minutes or so after ingesting their Sriracha, rather than the 30 to 45 minutes other products take to give you a buzz. That could lead to unfortunate outcomes for some imbibers who don’t read the label first.
What about the kids?
Potli is just like any other food item: Refrigerate After Opening. In homes with children, what happens when the little ones get hold of the Cannabis Sriracha by mistake? Kids don’t like hot, spicy stuff, you say? Lots of Asian kids get into it by the age of 10. Same could be said, I think, of kids in North American Homes where Asian heritage is celebrated, or folks just like it hot.
But the issue takes on much broader importance when you consider that some of the first Cannabis-infused products to hit the market were Chocolates and Gummy Candies. If kids find those lying around, and it’s a recipe for THC overdose. Medical authorities say emergency room visits for Cannanbis overdoses, by children and adults alike have risen dramatically since Wed was made legal in Canada. Other Weed-legal jurisdictions tell similar stories.
Not Just Sriracha, either
As time goes on, we’re going to see hundreds, maybe thousands of Cannabis-infused Foods and beverages on the market, any of which could easily be confused with the regular, ‘non fortified’ stuff. Is it time to talk about proper storage and service etiquette for these potentially harmful products? How about a universal labeling symbol to mark Cannabis-infused products, to easily differentiate them from ‘normal’ products? How about child-proof caps? These are just a few of the difficult questions I see emerging as Cannabis-infused foods and beverages become more and more mainstream…
~ Maggie J.