Beginning Monday, the first 2.0 products hit stores in Ontario, Canada’s largest provincial REC market boasting 39% of the country’s population. More products will arrive in stores over the next months (and years).
CTV News, Twitter—David George-Cosh, CBC Toronto
- Retailers will also receive updated training for CannSell certification in the sale of edibles, which all REC employees must pass before their first day of work.
Cannabis Retailer - Prince Edward Island delayed its plan to offer vape-pens, citing concerns about vape illnesses in the US.
CBC PEI - Meanwhile, Manitoba REC retailers—who had product on the shelves on December 16—were cleaned out of edibles by the Christmas rush and await restocking.
Winnipeg Sun - Nova Scotia debuted a few products before Christmas and sold out within days. Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation stores restocked January 2 but don’t have abundant product.
Leafly - To date, Quebec has only offered three 10mg CBD-teas. Sparkling waters and cooking oils will be available next. The province has banned cannabis vapes as well as sweetened edibles.
TVA Nouvelles—In French, Eater Montreal
Edibles received the bulk of media attention, including the usual caution to wait a couple of hours to see if that edible’s working before you eat any more. Though edibles will be capped at 10mg per package, that’s plenty for a beginner. For an impatient beginner, a second 10mg would be an awful lot more.
CTV News
- The 10mg limit has been the subject of complaint from many, including MED users. It will mean many regular cannabis users will not opt to pay between $7 and $10 for products that won’t get them as high as what’s available on the illicit market.
Global News - Controversial business journalist Amanda Lang recorded a surprisingly ill-informed opinion piece opposing edibles legislation.
National Observer, Bloomberg - Ontario edibles sales will also be constrained by the province’s small number of REC stores.
CTV News
A variety of vape pens constituted the majority of products debuting in Ontario.
Leafly
- Already, REC retailers and LPs are attempting to respond to complaints that vape-cartridges can’t be recycled. (Disposable ones definitely can’t.)
Twitter—David George-Cosh - US vape-pen sales declined 26% in the two months that followed the VAPI crisis.
Bloomberg - The farcical Smoke Free Ontario Act rule prevents vape sellers from displaying vape pens and dry-herb vaporizers, or their packaging, or allowing customers to handle those products, so REC retailers can only show customers photos of the new 2.0 vape pens.
Global News, Twitter—Harrison Jordan - David Lobo, the OCS’s VP corporate affairs, said supply would improve by February or March.
The Star
Aphria issued the first 2.0 recall, due to leaking cartridges in its Good Supply and Solei–branded vape pens.
Smart Money Gains, GrowthOp
- This means the regulated market is going through the same hurdles the illicit market did years ago, one longtime grower noted.
Twitter—Kev in the Shed