Derivatives added to Schedule 2 of Cannabis Act

Summary#

This is the Order Amending Schedule 2 to the Cannabis Act (SOR/2025-44). It adds two new entries that describe certain derivatives and products made from plant parts that are already listed in Schedule 2. The order came into force on the day it was published in the Canada Gazette, Part II — March 12, 2025.

What it does#

• Adds item 5 to Schedule 2: covers “a derivative made by processing parts of such a plant referred to in items 1, 3 or 4, or a product made from that derivative.”
• Adds item 6 to Schedule 2: covers “a derivative made by processing a stalk referred to in item 2, or a product made from that derivative,” only if it “does not contain an isolated or concentrated phytocannabinoid.”
• Comes into force on publication (March 12, 2025).
• The short notice in the Gazette does not explain in this text what legal effect these additions will have; the accompanying Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement is noted as appearing with a related item (SOR/2025-43).

Who's affected#

• Businesses that process the plant parts listed in Schedule 2 (particularly those that work with the parts referenced in items 1, 2, 3 and 4).
• Manufacturers and sellers of products made from those derivatives, including companies that use stalk material.
• Testing laboratories and compliance bodies that check for isolated or concentrated phytocannabinoids.
• Consumers of hemp- or cannabis-derived products may notice changes in what products are available or how they are labelled.

If you want to know exactly which plant parts are in items 1–4 of Schedule 2 (and therefore whether a specific product is covered), you will need to look at the full text of Schedule 2 or the linked Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement.

Why it matters#

• The change clarifies that certain processed derivatives and products from plant parts and stalks are specifically listed in Schedule 2, and it sets a limit for stalk-derived products: they must not contain isolated or concentrated phytocannabinoids.
• That condition matters in practice because it affects which products might meet the rule and which might require different handling, testing, or approvals.
• For businesses, this could affect manufacturing choices, testing requirements, and what they can legally sell without further approvals. For consumers, it could affect product availability and labelling.