The Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) plans to introduce cannabis vaping products into its offering by fall 2025. This decision aims to offer Quebec consumers a safer alternative to the unregulated products currently available on the illicit market.
A press release from the SQDC, dated November 28, 2024, indicates that the company wishes to provide quality-controlled vaping products, allowing consumers to know precisely what they are inhaling, while benefiting from the expert advice of trained advisors.
The implementation of this new product category will be done gradually, with an initial launch of approximately 20 products. Two separate calls for tenders will be organized: the first, concerning batteries, will open on December 10, 2024 and close on January 31, 2025. The second, concerning cannabis vape cartridges, will open on March 31, 2025 and close on April 25, 2025.
This initiative responds to the growing popularity of cannabis vaping in Quebec. According to a 2023 survey by the Institut de la statistique du Québec, 25% of cannabis consumers in the province reported using vaping products, despite the provincial ban in effect since 2019.
By offering regulated products, the SQDC intends to reduce the risks associated with products on the illegal market, which often contain prohibited chemical substances, THC levels exceeding Quebec standards, and flavours that are attractive to young people.