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PM Justin Trudeau announcing Cannabis Legalization day

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PM Justin Trudeau announcing Cannabis Legalization day

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On this day Trudeau and the Canadian Government came out and said that Cannabis Legalization would happen on October 17th 2018. Unfortunately not the hopeful and promised July 2018 date which would have been perfect but it was going to happen none the less. It marked a start to seeing drugs become something that maybe should not be prohibited. And possibly done right a new way to tackle addictions and drug problems instead of tossing them away in jail or prison and hoping that works. It was one of the promises the Liberal party made on their way to a dominating victory and they are willing to go through with it no matter the consequences. A drug that has been in the hands of drug dealers could maybe finally leave the streets and all the money go into the pockets of legitimate storefronts.

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that starting October 17, 2018, Canadians will be able to legally use recreational marijuana. Originally, the government promised it would happen by July. Mike Le Couteur explains why the date was pushed back, and how the issue of trade continues to hang over Trudeau's head.

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Trudeau announces marijuana will be legal in Canada on October 17 | Watch News Videos Online

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that starting October 17, 2018, Canadians will be able to legally use recreational marijuana. Originally, the government promised it would happen by July. Mike Le Couteur explains why the date was pushed back, and how the issue of trade continues to hang over Trudeau's head.

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5 quick facts about Cannabis Legalization

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5 quick facts about Cannabis Legalization

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This quick video outlines a few facts about some do's and do not's about Cannabis Legalization. Stuff like don't bring your weed to countries that maybe don't enjoy the same laws Canada does or that you shouldn't advertise to anyone who can't legally smoke, that being kids. It really just goes through some of the more larger parts about it all.

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Five things you need to know about Canada's marijuana legalization - CityNews Toronto

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Recreational cannabis is officially legal in Canada. Here are five things to know about what's legal, and what's not.

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It was party time outside the Mod Club in Toronto as people gathered to celebrate the ringing in of a new age. Sort of like an early new years party. There is a stereotype that a lot of Canadians like to get high from weed and that as well have been true on October 17th because a lot of people celebrated the legalization of Cannabis

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Cannabis countdown party celebrates marijuana legalization in Canada - CityNews Toronto

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Ginella Massa is outside the Mod Club where people gathered to celebrated the legalization of weed in Canada.

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The official Justice Canada twitter account re-tweeted the Minister of Justice Wilson-Raybould on the day of October 17th with a link to a website with the all you need to know facts about Cannabis Legalization at a federal level and health related inquires. The reason being why the information was given at a federal level is because all the provinces got to make their own rules on how to sell Cannabis. Some decided that storefronts and private retailers would be a great idea while other(s) decided that ONE online store and no private or public storefronts would be a fantastic idea. Alas its only year one of Cannabis being legal and there are bound to be hiccups as the law changed across the whole country. There most likely will be changes made to help with some issues whether they be federally or provincially.

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As of today, adults in Canada can legally purchase and possess #cannabis. Visit https://t.co/xMiEvNskU7 learn more about the new laws. #CannabisAct #C45 #marijuana https://t.co/Xy7QXFojY0

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Answers to questions about cannabis, its legalization, how to access it, how to become a licensed producer, how to talk to teens and health effects.

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As of today, adults in Canada can legally purchase and possess #cannabis. Visit https://t.co/xMiEvNskU7 learn more about the new laws. #CannabisAct #C45 #marijuana https://t.co/Xy7QXFojY0

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I’m proud to say that the #CannabisAct has come into force, allowing for a legal and strictly regulated #cannabis market that will help protect public health and safety. https://t.co/9p7m8hiSQ3 #C45 #marijuana

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Canada legalizes and strictly regulates cannabis - Canada.ca

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After extensive consultation with law enforcement, health and safety experts, and the hard work of the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation, the Government of Canada implemented a new legal framework that legalizes, strictly regulates and restricts access to cannabis.

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As of today, adults in Canada can legally purchase and possess #cannabis. Visit https://t.co/xMiEvNskU7 learn more about the new laws. #CannabisAct #C45 #marijuana https://t.co/Xy7QXFojY0
— Justice Canada (@JusticeCanadaEN) October 17, 2018

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As of today, adults in Canada can legally purchase and possess #cannabis. Visit https://t.co/xMiEvNskU7 learn more about the new laws. #CannabisAct #C45 #marijuana https://t.co/Xy7QXFojY0

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Answers to questions about cannabis, its legalization, how to access it, how to become a licensed producer, how to talk to teens and health effects.

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I’m proud to say that the #CannabisAct has come into force, allowing for a legal and strictly regulated #cannabis market that will help protect public health and safety. https://t.co/9p7m8hiSQ3 #C45 #marijuana

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Canada legalizes and strictly regulates cannabis - Canada.ca

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After extensive consultation with law enforcement, health and safety experts, and the hard work of the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation, the Government of Canada implemented a new legal framework that legalizes, strictly regulates and restricts access to cannabis.

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As of today, adults in Canada can legally purchase and possess #cannabis. Visit https://t.co/xMiEvNskU7 learn more about the new laws. #CannabisAct #C45 #marijuana https://t.co/Xy7QXFojY0

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As of today, adults in Canada can legally purchase and possess #cannabis. Visit https://t.co/xMiEvNskU7 learn more about the new laws. #CannabisAct #C45 #marijuana https://t.co/Xy7QXFojY0

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Answers to questions about cannabis, its legalization, how to access it, how to become a licensed producer, how to talk to teens and health effects.

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I’m proud to say that the #CannabisAct has come into force, allowing for a legal and strictly regulated #cannabis market that will help protect public health and safety. https://t.co/9p7m8hiSQ3 #C45 #marijuana

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Canada legalizes and strictly regulates cannabis - Canada.ca

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After extensive consultation with law enforcement, health and safety experts, and the hard work of the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation, the Government of Canada implemented a new legal framework that legalizes, strictly regulates and restricts access to cannabis.

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Colorado Police Expert weighs in on Cannabis Legalization

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Colorado Police Expert weighs in on Cannabis Legalization

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A Police Officer from Colorado, one of the first states to legalize Cannabis/Weed is interviewed and says that Canada is on the right track. Hey they did it first, while on a smaller scale having a population just a couple million higher than Toronto, so they must know something. He goes on to talk about how everything will change and improve as time goes by and it will all get better. For example testing for THC can be hard and very scrutinized as it can stay in the body for a few days. So how do you properly test it? Well that will have to answered in time

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Canada is "on the right track" with its approach to legalizing marijuana.

That's according to Lewis Koski, the former director of the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division during that state's own legalization process.
READ MORE: Now that pot is legal, will Canada become the new Amsterdam?
In an interview with the West Block's Mercedes Stephenson, Koski said there remains much work ahead for Canada as the realities of legalization play out and as progress is made towards legalizing edibles and cannabis concentrates next year.

"Everything that we've seen so far up in Canada would suggest the country is really on the right track," said Koski, who now runs a consulting firm advising governments on legalization called Freedman & Koski.

"So in a lot of ways, a lot of the things that have made Canada successful up to this point are going to continue to make them successful as they endeavor into regulating other products like edibles and concentrates."
WATCH BELOW: Are Canadians ready to be responsible when it comes to using cannabis?
The state of Colorado legalized recreational pot in 2014 though it remains illegal federally in the United States.

In Canada, recreational cannabis became legal on Oct. 17.

Legalization was a hallmark campaign pledge of the Liberals, but while Canadians are now free to smoke, vape and grow their own - subject to some limits - there remain questions about how to handle both the legalization of further forms of consumption as well as how to address the risk of impaired driving.

THC, the component in cannabis that produces the effect of a 'high,' can remain in the blood for days.
READ MORE: Here are the challenges police could face in laying charges for pot-impaired driving
That has raised questions about whether law enforcement will be able to prove people involved in crashes were actively impaired at the time of the collision rather than being sober with days-old THC lingering in their blood.

A lack of clear scientific evidence about how long the effects of cannabis consumption last also adds to that challenge.
WATCH BELOW: Cannabis advocate calls legalization day "a stepping stone"
Koski touched on those concerns, noting Colorado did see an uptick in the number of crashes after legalization involving THC in the blood of those involved.

"What we don't know for sure is whether those people who tested positive for cannabis were impaired because that test simply doesn't exist," he said. "Therefore we don't know whether it was the causation for those particular crashes."

Despite that, he said there have not been significant challenges for police officers in Colorado when it comes to prosecuting cases of impairment.

He said training law enforcement to identify signs of impairment, as has been done in Canada, helps with that.

And just because legalization has happened doesn't mean the work will be done.

"Right after legalization occurred, we still had a tremendous amount of work that needed to be done. So we still had a lot of work around edibles regulation, which is not all that different from what's going to happen in Canada over the next six to nine months, but we also had worked through implementing a mandatory testing program and other issues," he said.

"It wasn't like we legalized on Day 1 and all the work was done ... it's just policy that continues to evolve over time."

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When it comes to pot legalization, Canada 'on the right track,' says Colorado police expert

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Canada is "on the right track" with its approach to legalizing marijuana. That's according to Lewis Koski, the former director of the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division during that state's own legalization process. READ MORE: Now that pot is legal, will Canada become the new Amsterdam?

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An interview with a police superintendent about the affects of police work

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An interview with a police superintendent about the affects of police work

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A police officer from Halifax is interviewed four weeks after legalization and the effects of Cannabis Legalization. Halifax while being a smaller population in Canada seems to have had no significant impact to Cannabis legalization. They go over illegal cannabis sales at illegal dispensary's, how they are responding or not responding to cannabis, legal price vs illegal price, impaired driving, officer use and the expectations of Cannabis Legalization

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How legalization has affected police work

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Steve Murphy chats with Jim Perrin, the officer in charge of integrated criminal investigations for the Halifax Regional Police.

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Canadian Police so far have not seen an increase in impaired driving due to Cannabis legalization. It seems to be status quo. If that is due to people being really good at hiding it or they simply don't drive while high which is the best option because being high you don't really do much other than just relax. Either way this is good news for everyone as cannabis users stay home while under the effects of THC and keep the fun to themselves which is what we all want. Fun that is best enjoyed while being safe. Don't drive high.

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VANCOUVER -- Canadian police have not seen a spike in cannabis-impaired driving one month since legalization, but there needs to be more awareness of laws around storing marijuana in vehicles and passengers smoking weed, law enforcement officials say.

The Canadian Press canvassed police forces and provincial and territorial Crowns across the country and while some said it was too early to provide data, others said initial numbers and anecdotal impressions suggest stoned driving isn't on the rise.

"Even before the legislation we were catching a lot of high school kids because marijuana has seemed to be kind of mainstream forever," said Sgt. Joe Cantelo of the Kennebecasis Regional Police Force in New Brunswick.

"In our department, there's certainly no rise in impaired driving by (marijuana)."

Police forces in Vancouver, Regina, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Truro, N.S., and Kensington, P.E.I., all said they hadn't noticed a significant change in driver behaviour since pot was legalized on Oct. 17.

Cantelo said there were three impaired driving charges in his community over the last few weeks and they were "strictly older adults with alcohol."

Manitoba RCMP conducted three cannabis-impaired driving investigations in the three weeks since Oct. 17, compared with one such investigation in the three weeks prior to legalization. There were about 50 alcohol-impaired driving charges laid during each of the same periods.

Const. Jason Doucette said Vancouver police have issued 18 violation tickets under provincial cannabis laws since Oct. 17. The majority of traffic-related tickets were issued because pot was not properly stored or passengers were consuming weed in the vehicle.

During one roadblock campaign, he said Vancouver officers noted six events specific to cannabis impairment, which led to four 24-hour driving suspensions.

"As expected, we haven't seen a dramatic increase in cannabis-related offences," he added.

Provinces and territories established their own laws around cannabis storage in vehicles, but generally weed must be in closed packaging and out of reach of the driver. Manitoba took a step further and required pot to be in a secure compartment, such as the trunk.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, there have been at least six charges related to open or accessible cannabis in vehicles, RCMP said.

Obviously drivers can't consume weed, but many provinces, including British Columbia and Ontario, have banned passengers from toking as well. A joint-smoking passenger in Saanich, B.C., was slapped with a $230 fine a day after legalization, police said.

As for cannabis-impaired driving, some police detachments and Crowns don't track it separately from impairment caused by other drugs or alcohol.

The B.C. Public Prosecution Service said it doesn't classify impaired-driving charges by intoxicant, but in the three weeks after legalization it approved 43 such charges, while in the three weeks before legalization it approved 52 charges.

Toronto police said they'd had 58 drug-impaired driving incidents in 2018 to date, including two after pot legalization, and 824 alcohol-impaired incidents. That's compared to 60 incidents of drug impairment in drivers and 1,154 instances of alcohol impairment in all of 2017.

In Halifax and the Northwest Territories, there were no cannabis-impaired driving arrests in the three weeks before or after legalization, while in Nunavut, there were five general impaired-driving charges during both periods.

Sgt. Joyce Kemp said Quebec provincial police made 252 arrests for drug-related driving impairments between Jan. 1 and Sept. 17 of this year, compared to 319 for all of 2017 and 310 in 2016.

"A lot of people seem to think this is something new," she said. "But the numbers speak (for themselves), we've been doing this for quite a few years now."

Some police detachments, including Edmonton, Regina, Yukon and Nunavut, have purchased or are planning to purchase the federally approved roadside saliva test, the Drager DrugTest 5000, but have not used it in the field. Others have decided to rely on standardized field sobriety tests and drug recognition experts for now.

Kyla Lee, a Vancouver-based lawyer who wants to file a court challenge of the Drager test once it's used on a driver who wishes to dispute it, said she hadn't heard of it being used anywhere yet.

She said she's impressed so far with the police approach to enforcement, particularly in B.C.'s Lower Mainland.

"I was worried when the law changed ... that this sort of panic around cannabis-impaired driving was going to lead to a number of false arrests and bad investigations. That's not what I've been seeing," she said.

There still needs to be more awareness among Canadians, especially youth, of the dangers of cannabis-impaired driving, said Andrew Murie, CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada.

"The problem we were having, especially with young people with cannabis, is they didn't see cannabis as dangerous, (we) didn't see them upholding the same type of behaviours they would around alcohol," he said.

"We had a problem of perception that it's less dangerous and that's the biggest battle we're fighting right now."

-- With files from Holly McKenzie-Sutter in St. John's, Morgan Lowrie in Montreal, Nicole Thompson in Toronto, Steve Lambert in Winnipeg, Ryan McKenna in Regina, Bob Weber in Edmonton and Bill Graveland in Calgary.

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Early data suggests no spike in pot-impaired driving after legalization: police

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VANCOUVER -- Canadian police have not seen a spike in cannabis-impaired driving one month since legalization, but there needs to be more awareness of laws around storing marijuana in vehicles and passengers smoking weed, law enforcement officials say.

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An article talking about a second wave of Cannabis legalization

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An article talking about a second wave of Cannabis legalization

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Cannabis Legalization just happened and some are already talking about the sequel that hasn't been green lit yet. People are expecting that by October 2019 edibles, drinks, and vapor will all hit the legal cannabis market. Some say that the first Cannabis Legalization left a significant portion of the black market unchecked but they are already developing products for when it all becomes legal. And as if small companies weren't getting ready for it major brewing companies are getting in bed with cannabis companies to potentially create cannabis infused beers. Whether this actually happens due to 2019 being an election year remains yet to be seen but it seems an opportunity not to miss with all the potential finical gain to amass.

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Now that recreational cannabis is legal in Canada, producers are looking forward to what they're calling the "second wave" of legalization - edibles, drinks and vaping products expected to become legal starting next year.

Bruce Linton, the founder and co-CEO of Canopy Growth, said new products developed by Tweed - the cannabis brand owned by Canopy and based in Smiths Falls - represent the next big opportunity.

"I think if you're not preparing things two years in advance, you're never ready," he said.

"Right now, none of the chocolate or gummy bears or beverages can be prepared or sold, but we're doing experiments on how to make them."

Recreational cannabis became legal on Oct. 17, though only dried and fresh cannabis, oil, plants and seeds are allowed under the legislation.

The federal government has said edibles containing cannabis and cannabis concentrates would be legal on or before Oct. 17, 2019.

The legislation left a significant portion of the illegal market untouched, said Jay Rosenthal, the co-founder and president of the news site Business of Cannabis.

"[Edibles] are the products that the black market has been really good at marketing and selling," he said.

"As a specific goal of driving out the black market, these products are really important to bring online."

Market expands

Since legalization, the demand for cannabis products has been high in many provinces.

Shipping for orders from the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) took longer than promised due to the volume of orders and brick-and-mortar retail locations in Quebec had to trim store hours amid stock shortages.

Edibles and infused beverages may come with even higher demand, Linton said, as some consumers might consider eating and drinking the products to be more socially acceptable than smoking them.

"If you come to my house, do you want me to pour you a beverage that makes you feel a little happy? Or do you want to smoke marijuana?" he said.

"Many people find it socially comfortable to have a beverage."

Rosenthal said edible products and beverages also contain consistent doses of cannabis oil and have a reproducible effect, while the effects from smoking cannabis can vary widely.

Brand-building starts

Some Canadian companies have been looking to states such as Colorado, where recreational cannabis sales became legal in 2014, to see how producers there are keeping up with demand for edibles.

"It's about getting commercial grade kitchens up and running, because that is not easy," Rosenthal said.

"Creating the next wave of products and facilities to actually churn those out is going to be a challenge."

Chuck Rifici, the chairman and CEO of Auxly Cannabis Group, said his 18-month-old company is jumping right into developing edible products.

"We're calling it the second wave of legalization," he said.

"We're focusing on everything from different types of edibles to ready-to-serve drinks and vape pens, all the types of products that one might find if they wander into an unlicensed dispensary today."

That "second wave" will give companies the chance to develop their brand, he said, with the development of unique products, from candy to chocolate to specialty beverages.

"The average Canadian will be able to have a lot more brand differentiation because whether it's packaging or taste, there will be a lot more factors beyond just flower and bud," he said.

"The brands will really start being built next year."

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Cannabis edibles, drinks will mark '2nd wave' of legalization | CBC News

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Now that recreational cannabis is legal in Canada, producers are looking forward to what they're calling the "second wave" of legalization - edibles, drinks and vaping products expected to become legal starting next year.

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Russia takes aim at Cannabis Legalization

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Russia takes aim at Cannabis Legalization

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Russia has come out against calling cannabis legalization hypocrisy. They cited that Cannabis goes against major international treaties such as the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. They also claim that Canada is creating the largest drug market in the world which is somewhat true if Canadians didn't buy every piece of legal Cannabis. Anyways Russia as well as some Asian countries have come out against it. For example any South Korean visiting Canada who smokes weed is then guilty and will be punished by Korean Law. And to top it all off the UN came out and expressed "regret" at Canada's decision.

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Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly

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In a written statement shared on Twitter, Russia says Ottawa's efforts to legalize pot will lead to an increase in international drug trafficking and contradicts existing treaties.

On October 17, Canada became the first G7 country to federally legalize adult-use cannabis, fulfilling a 2015 campaign promise made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. One of the major goals of the new legislation is to eradicate the illicit weed market, which Russia seems to believe will have the opposite effect.

The statement, which called the federal government's decision "unacceptable" and "hypocritical", was posted in French on Monday (October 22) via the Russian embassy's social media.

According to Russian officials, Canada's "drug liberation" efforts go against several major international treaties, including the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

The translated testimonial reads: "By consciously torpedoing the international drug control regime, the Canadian government is creating the largest drug market in the world that, despite all the claims and measures being considered to prevent the export of cannabis outside national borders, will certainly raise considerable traffic to other states, including those which are strictly adhered to in the spirit and letter of the conventions mentioned."

MAE de la #Russie: La "Loi sur le cannabis" au #Canada va à l'encontre de la juridiction internationale en matière de contrôle des stupéfiants #MarijuanaCanada pic.twitter.com/3M4Q8fr7k4
- Russia in Canada (@RussianEmbassyC) October 22, 2018

Russia isn't the first country to voice public opposition in light of recent political shifts surrounding cannabis. Yoon Se-jin, head of the Narcotics Crime Investigation Division at a South Korean police agency, issued a warning to South Korean citizens in Canada thinking about smoking pot now that it's legal.

"Weed smokers will be punished according to the Korean law, even if they did so in countries where smoking marijuana is legal. There won't be an exception," he said in a translated article published by the Korean Times last week.

Last Wednesday (October 17), the United Nations (UN) also officially weighed-in by expressing its "regret" regarding Canada's new drug policies. In a statement by the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), officials say the country's Cannabis Act, which legalizes weed for non-medical purposes, goes against an international agreement countries "have undertaken to limit the production, manufacture, export, import, distribution of, trade in, use and possession of drugs exclusively to medical and scientific purposes."

President of the INCB Viroj Sumyai said in the annoucement: "While the Board is concerned about the impact of cannabis legalization in Canada on the international consensus embodied in the three United Nations drug control conventions and the related commitments made by the international community at the special session of the General Assembly in 2016, it is also deeply concerned about the public health impact of these policy choices on the health and welfare of Canadians, particularly youth."

The INCP says it plans to continue to have talks with the Canadian government about cannabis legalization and will "examine the matter" during a meeting set to take place sometime in early November.

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Russia calls Canada's decision to legalize cannabis hypocritical and unacceptable

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In a written statement shared on Twitter, Russia says Ottawa's efforts to legalize pot will lead to an increase in international drug trafficking and contradicts existing treaties. On October 17, Canada became the first G7 country to federally legalize adult-use cannabis, fulfilling a 2015 campaign promise made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

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Alberta is booming, and not with oil. Their cannabis market is looking to take off as retail stores keep opening up by the day selling out like crazy. They expect to have 250 stores opened up by the end of the first year of Cannabis Legalization. On day one there were 17 stores, two days later 10 more opened up. Through November the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) expects to dish out up to 100 licences to stores to sell cannabis products.

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Albertans could witness a cannabis retail boom over the coming weeks as the provincial government expects more than 100 stores to be operating by mid-November, but the aggressive roll-out has left some industry watchers wondering whether the province will have enough supply to meet demand.

While most provinces ushered in the legalization of recreational cannabis with a handful of stores on Wednesday, Alberta saw 17 private retailers open their doors. In the two days since then, a further ten stores, most of them in Calgary, have been licensed by the provincial regulator.

The speed of Alberta's cannabis retail expansion is unlike that forecast by any other province. To the west, B.C. has opened only one government-run store in Kamloops and is currently eyeing two more locations in the city, that can be found in the province's Interior. Ontario expects no brick-and-mortar stores before next April, while Quebec's government monopoly had 12 stores open on Wednesday, and expects up to 160 outlets within three years.

"This is the starting point, not the finish line. We will have many more retailers licensed in the coming weeks across Alberta," Alain Maisonneuve, the chief executive of the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC), said earlier this week. Along with regulating cannabis in Alberta, the government agency serves as the province's wholesaler to stores. "We expect anywhere from 80 to 100 licences being issued over the next month."

Mr. Maisonneuve said he expects 250 stores to open within the first year of legal recreational cannabis.

Realtor Karen Barry now has a license to operate a cannabis store near Calgary's trendy Beltline neighbourhood. After months of frustration with licensing, insurance, city bylaws and getting her store ready, she now says she's only missing her first shipment of cannabis to open.

"We are ready, willing and able to open our doors. It's just a fulfillment issue at this point," she said on Friday. She's sent her first order to the AGLC and hopes to be in business soon. Long lines with hundreds of people persisted outside of Calgary's two cannabis stores over the first 48 hours after legalization.

The province's two decades of experience selling alcohol through private retailers − cannabis is now being sold in a similar way to liquor and regulated by the same government agency − accounts for Alberta's speed getting private stores licensed and open, according to James Burns, the CEO of Alcanna Inc., formerly Liquor Stores Inc. As the largest private retailer of alcohol in Canada, operating 230 stores, Alcanna has now opened five cannabis stores in Alberta, under the Nova Cannabis banner.

"Other provinces have no experience with this, they are starting from scratch. If I could give them free advice, they should come here and ask the AGLC for its playbook. If it's not broke don't fix it," Mr. Burns told The Globe and Mail.

With Alberta planning to restrict retailers to owning no more than 15 per cent of stores, Alcanna is looking to expand to B.C., where the government there will operate stores but will also allow private retailers to open. The company is interested in Ontario's market as well. After his election, Premier Doug Ford reversed his predecessor's plan to open a government cannabis monopoly under the LCBO and will license private stores starting next year. Mr. Burns said he is also looking at Quebec's market, where newly elected Premier François Legault has mused about allowing private retailers.

Cannabis consultant and lobbyist Jamie Shaw, said that Alberta and neighbouring Saskatchewan, which has embraced a nearly full privatization of cannabis retail, have had the smoothest rollouts of their first stores.

"The big concern for Alberta is whether they'll have an adequate amount of supply. Smaller provinces, especially in the Maritimes, have already had issues with shortages. If they can meet the demands of all those new stores, with only intermittent shortages, Alberta will have secured a strong supply," said Ms. Shaw, who represents a dozen aspiring retailers across B.C., Alberta and Ontario.

The AGLC has already warned that it expects supply shortages over the next few months as cannabis producers continue to increase their levels of production.

Along with supply, Mr. Burns said he expects the first year of legalization will be difficult for new retailers as they combat a black market that can often sell cannabis cheaper. Alcanna won't make a profit off cannabis in its first year, he said, despite enjoying profit margins of nearly 20 per cent on sales.

"Anyone who thinks there are gold nuggets on the ground in the first year are in for a surprise, this is going to be tough," he said, adding that he sees the black market as his main competitor, not other legal stores. "These aren't nice people, they aren't going to turn their keys over. They aren't going to go away, but we're a big company, we know how to do this and we've got the staying power."

While a number of retail chains have already emerged, including Nova Cannabis, NewLeaf Cannabis, as well as Fire and Flower Cannabis, Ms. Shaw said it won't be clear over the first year whether any players may come to dominate the market.

She expects new chains will appear while existing ones will merge or link up as the market matures. "It'll look so different a few years from now, as the players change and there will be more product diversity," she said.

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Alberta experiences cannabis retail boom as 100 more stores to roll-out by mid-November

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Albertans could witness a cannabis retail boom over the coming weeks as the provincial government expects more than 100 stores to be operating by mid-November, but the aggressive roll-out has left some industry watchers wondering whether the province will have enough supply to meet demand.

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One of the better things to come out of Cannabis Legalization is the pardons for small possession of Pot. Justin Trudeau in this quick interview outlines a process that will allow people to apply for a pardon to dismiss any and all small possession of marijuana from their past. He mentions it was necessary to have this because small possession is now legal and people should be allowed to be pardoned of a crime that no longer exists. He mentions that a big reason was that young Canadians were heavily charged with small possession and can now remedy that.

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Justin Trudeau speaks about pot pardon process as marijuana legalized in Canada