HALIFAX
NOVA SCOTIA
CANADA
Nova Scotia’s first legal weed is in the works – nearly four-million grams worth.
The Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) has placed its first purchase orders for recreational cannabis in preparation for legalization Oct. 17.
The NSLC said in a news release it has placed orders with 14 Canadian cannabis vendors, including two from the Atlantic region and one cannabis accessory vendor.
“We have done our homework and believe the 78 strains we have ordered will provide customers with a varied product assortment,” said Brett Mitchell, NSLC President and CEO. “We have carefully selected the strains and will adjust our inventory based on customer preference.
The first purchase orders are intended to secure 3.75 million grams. The NSLC anticipates it will order in the range of 15 million grams in the first year.
The strains and amounts have been selected based on a number of criteria including relevant sales data from the recreational and medical cannabis markets in Canada and the United States, product availability and the suppliers ability to provide a continuous supply.
With these first purchase orders, the NSLC will carry 282 cannabis products and 21 accessories. The corporation’s recreational cannabis will come in five formats: flower (bud), seeds, pre-rolls, oil and gel caps.
“I’m extremely proud of our employees for their diligence in bringing this new product category to market in a responsible way,” Mitchell said. “Our focus has always been, and will remain, on the responsible retailing of this new product category.”
The release said the NSLC has leveraged its corporate social responsibility experience and used industry best practices to ensure the product is sold responsibly and according to federal and provincial legislation.
It has also launched a customer education program called What to Expect, to prepare and inform customers on the cannabis shopping experience. The program explains age restrictions in the cannabis stores including that nobody under the age of 19 is permitted into the section.
And it is preparing for customer lineups because cannabis purchases are expected to take more time to process than alcohol purchases.
The NSLC has also developed a corporate social responsibility program called Need to Know, which focuses on the responsible consumption and safe storage of recreational cannabis. It informs customers they must be 19 or older to purchase recreational cannabis, that cannabis affects everyone differently. Customers are advised to start with low THC percentages and slowly learn how they will react to the drug.
Customers are also advised to consume alcohol and cannabis separately and to keep cannabis locked and out of reach and sight of minors.
The program also reminds Nova Scotians to never drive after consumption of beverage alcohol or cannabis and to plan ahead to get home safely.
The two Atlantic Canadian suppliers are both from New Brunswick - OrganiGram Inc., in Moncton and Zenabis East (Sun Farm) of Atholville.
The other 12 suppliers are all based in Ontario.
NSLC cannabis prices are set at three price points:
Value - $8.49/gm;
Core – $9-$10.99/gm;
Premium - $12/gm.
All prices include HST.
