Canadian biosciences company Sunshine Earth Labs announced Thursday it has been licensed to produce and sell cocaine, reflecting the federal health agency's bid to improve safety conditions for the country's addicts.
The licensing deal comes after a radical policy shift to address an
opioid overdose crisis that has killed thousands, by decriminalizing small amounts of
cocaine, heroin and other hard
drugs.
Ottawa granted a criminal code exemption in January to British Columbia for the three-year pilot project, with the aim of removing the stigma associated with drug use that keeps people from seeking help.
Advocates have also been pushing for safer supplies of drugs to be made available to addicts who face a risk of dying from toxic drug poisoning linked to illicit street drugs.
Sunshine Earth Labs said in a statement it received permission from Health
Canada to "legally possess, produce, sell and distribute coca leaf and cocaine," as well as morphine, MDMA (ecstasy) and heroin.
Canadian biosciences company Sunshine Earth Labs announced Thursday it has been licensed to produce and sell cocaine, reflecting the federal health agency's bid to improve safety conditions for the country's…
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