While emailing private REC stores about regulatory changes (including scrapping the rule that required REC store windows to be opaque), the BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch inadvertently openly CC’d all of the province’s private retailers, who quickly identified one another and created a Facebook group in which to vent frustrations. Some are angry the provincially owned BC Cannabis Store is allowed to sell the same product as they do, only at a discount–especially since it has a monopoly on online sales, others annoyed they shelled out thousands to block their windows. Still more want the right to deliver products directly to customers’ doors, as has been allowed under emergency COVID measures in Ontario.
Powell River Now, Twitter–@UnityMarguerite, Castanet, CBC British Columbia
In Other Retail News:
New Brunswick will decide by the end of summer which LP will receive the province’s REC retail monopoly. Premier Blaine Higgs and his conservative government decided to privatize the provincial monopoly last November, before Cannabis NB became profitable.
CBC New Brunswick
Ontario surpassed the 100 REC store mark and has moved past 110 Retail Store Authorizations. By lawyer Matt Maurer’s count, Canopy‘s Tokyo Smoke has 10 stores, Canna Cabana has 7, One Plant has 8, Inner Spirit has 6, Hunny Pot has 6, and Hobo has 7.
MJ Biz Daily, Twitter–@MattPMaurer
Postmedia cannabis vertical the Growth Op initially published and then took down an opinion by editor Kate Robertson criticizing Toronto’s newest Tokyo Smoke location for displaying the owner’s collection of pieces by Banksy.
Twitter–@CosmicBlend, @KatieRowboat
Here’s a portrait of Alberta’s REC retail system, with its nearly 500 stores.
StratCann
Saskatoon REC stores, claiming their feared their ability to be competitive, failed to convince city councilors that they needed to restrict the number of new REC stores that will be allowed to open this fall.
CBC Saskatoon
