By Taylor Chartrand

Alberta leading the way in cannabis sales

Feb 28, 2019 | 4:18 PM

Medicine Hat, AB — According to Statistics Canada, Albertans are buying more cannabis than anywhere else in Canada.

Sales in Alberta hit $13.6 million in December, up from $11 million in November.

Co-owner of The Green Exchange in Medicine Hat, Chris Weber, says sales for their establishment in December were steady, thanks to people gifting cannabis for the holidays.

“Since legalization, things have been going really well,” explained Weber. “Obviously a little slower now due to the cold-snap and retail sales in January, February typically being a little slower, but we’re motoring along.”

HERE'S WHAT TO KNOW

Summer pool hours extended and discounts applied as Big Marble Go Centre upgrades start

Apr 18, 2024

Medicine Hat company drawing in clients with witty signage

Apr 16, 2024

Medicine Hat College holding event for missing and murdered Indigenous women awareness day

Apr 16, 2024

Weber says like many retailers, sales have not been his stores main problems.

“It’s tough to get a weeks worth of product, you know, from order form to order form every Monday. So, it’s a little trying right now, but hopefully it doesn’t get any worse.”

Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) Senior Communications Officer, Chara Goodings says she understands that retailers are still dealing with these issues.

“There’s enough to keep them going, but I wouldn’t say there’s enough to keep them satisfied,” explained Goodings. “Basically, they’re not able to get everything they want, in the quantities they want.”

Goodings says the AGLC has recently reached an agreement with four new licensed producers, which should ease the shortage of cannabis a bit.

“We have a total of 19 now and with the new ones, we’re hoping to receive product from them some time this year. We’re not 100% sure when that is going to exactly be, but we are looking forward to them providing us with more inventory.”

If more licensed producers were to arise in the coming weeks or months, Goodings says it could provide a window to further relax the AGLC’s freeze on cannabis licenses in the province.

“The cannabis stock is slowly increasing, but it’s not enough to warrant more licenses. We want to make sure before we grant any new licenses, that the stock we have is something we feel is enough to open more locations, so they can be sustainable. We also have to make sure if we open the license process, that the existing locations aren’t going to suffer.”

Currently, Goodings says there are approximately 630 establishments in Alberta that are stuck in the retail freeze for cannabis licenses.