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Ayurveda Dept. raises alarm over cannabis-infused chocolate in the market
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The cannabis-infused chocolate had been produced by a local ayurvedic drug manufacturing company for Valentine's Day
By Jayani Madawala
The detection of a cannabis-infused chocolate product touted as an aphrodisiac among young couples ahead of Valentine’s Day last month has prompted the Ayurveda Department to raise an alarm.
The Ayurveda Department’s Supervision Chief Dr. P. Tharanga said the cannabis-infused chocolate had been produced by a local ayurvedic drug manufacturing company targeting last month’s Valentine’s Day market, especially through social media marketing.
The commercials aimed at young people claimed that the chocolate aroused sexual desires and was made of ayurvedic herbs which were Sri Lanka’s indigenous medicinal food.
Dr. Tharanga said only a limited number of chocolate bars, produced as part of research conducted by the company, had been introduced to the market. It was marketed as ayurvedic medicinal chocolate made of cannabis, ashwagandha, Valmi and other herbs.
About 3000 bars had been released to the market and the stock was almost sold out, though they were priced at around Rs. 3,000.
The officer said the Ayurveda Department had not approved the product.
Dr. Tharanga said cannabis-infused food products coming into the market could draw protests from the public and religious leaders and even have an impact on the Parliamentary Committee studying a proposal to grow cannabis for the export market.
“Products such as this are illegal as the use of cannabis is allowed only for the preparation of medicines under the Poisons, Opium, and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance,” he said. “Even transporting such products is illegal.”
The officials said Health Ministry permission should be obtained before manufacturing and promoting a food item containing cannabis, particularly when mentioning the name of Ayurveda. The legalising process of an Ayurveda product involved pre-checks, safety reports, licensing and other procedures.
“We do not see a connection between Ayurveda and chocolates. We do not use chocolate as medicine. Therefore, products such as cannabis-infused chocolate should be immediately barred.”
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