Budtenders and the Fine Line Between Education and Regulation in Cannabis Retail
When Canadians walk into a cannabis retail store, their first point of contact is often one of the country's many budtenders knowledgeable staff who help customers navigate products, strains, and formats. Yet behind the friendly guidance lies a complicated challenge: budtenders must educate without crossing into medical territory.
Under Canadian law, budtenders can explain product types, potency, and effects, but they cannot make medical or therapeutic claims. This creates a delicate balancing act between compliance and customer care. As Matt Maurer, Chair of the Cannabis Law Group at Torkin Manes, explains, "You're not allowed to make representations about what a product can do." In other words, budtenders can describe, but they can't prescribe.
This rule may sound simple, but it's anything but. A past controversy over products labeled "Calm" and "Tranquil" sparked debate about whether such names implied health benefits. Maurer notes that while enforcement is rare, crossing the line could lead to fines or penalties. In most cases, budtenders would only face consequences if a regulator or customer complaint triggered an investigation.
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