BOW VALLEY – The recreational use of cannabis may be legal, but don’t expect to be able to buy it in the Bow Valley anytime soon.
A national shortage of the drug has forced Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) to temporarily suspend accepting new cannabis-retail applications, or issue any additional licences until further notice.
“AGLC ordered enough product to support up to 250 retail stores in the first six months of legalization; however, as of Nov. 17 we have only received approximately 20 per cent of what we had ordered,” wrote Alain Maisonneuve president and CEO of the provincial agency.
“While some licensed producers have fulfilled their commitments, not all have. We continue to work with them to fill stock. Unfortunately, regardless of our efforts, we are seeing the supply of most products run out.”
To date, Fire & Flower Cannabis Co. is the only store in Canmore that has received a licence to sell cannabis, however it’s unclear when it will open.
Brandon Wainwright, the general manager for the store, declined to comment when reached, but stated the store would be opening before Christmas.
At least two other stores in Canmore are currently waiting to receive their licences from the AGLC, including Starbuds on Main Street and Rocky Mountain Cannabar on Bow Valley Trail. Neither company was available to speak as of press time.
In Banff, Town officials are expecting to receive between three and eight cannabis retail applications, but it won’t be until January or February before any stores get approval based on the municipality’s application process.
The AGLC said its priority is to ensure private retailers are supported and it continues to allocate the majority of its scarce inventory to private retailers.
That being said, it will also maintain some online product to allow consumers in communities where there aren’t any retail stores to purchase cannabis online. It also offered applicants a full refund of all licensing fees if they wish to withdraw from the application process.
According to various media reports, the shortage is being blamed on tough regulations imposed by Health Canada on the country’s 132 licensed producers, and the time it takes to develop the product. There have also been issues with packaging and shipping slowing down distribution.
Elsewhere in the country the shortage is also having a major impact on retail stores.
In Quebec, government-run cannabis stores have restricted their operating hours to four days a week until the supply is stabilized, while New Brunswick was forced to temporarily close more than half its stores.
