Canada’s Eastern shore province of Nova Scotia will begin sales of cannabis in liquor stores beginning July 2018. The Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation said marijuana will be sold both in stores and on their website.
“The NSLC has the experience and expertise to distribute and sell restricted products like alcohol and now cannabis in a socially responsible way,” said Justice Minister Mark Furey at a news conference.
-
Related Story: Study Shows Marijuana’s CBD Reduces Blood Pressure
“We believe the NSLC is best positioned to sell cannabis, keeping it out of the hands of young people and making it legally available in a safe, regulated way,” he continued.
The main hopes are to keep cannabis out of the hands of minors and provide a safe environment in which to procure cannabis. There are snags that go along with the idea as well, though.
One consideration is that many people struggling with alcoholism use marijuana instead to wind down after a long day. There is trepidation that putting people back in their old haunts might lead to temptation. (“Hmm, maybe I’ll just wash this joint down with some whiskey…”)
However, the positive outweigh the negatives. For one thing, liquor stores are already established and the employees are trained on rules like checking ID. Plus there’s the security systems already in place, ensuring that there are no sales to minors or even potential theft.
According to Newsweek, Nova Scotians can purchase up to 30 grams and must be over 19 years old to make said purchase.
Canada has left the decision making up to its 10 provinces as to how the cannabis will be sold, how much can be sold and what the requirements are for cannabis dispensaries come July 2018. Ontario is another province that plans to sell through liquor stores, but some places like New Brunswick are opting for government run stores with no window advertisements.
-
Related Story: Jackpot! Nevada’s Legal Weed Retail Sales Hit $33 Million
Regulations are being prioritized and put into place at a fast clip, but most are still hurrying to make the July opening. Quebec even asked for a year of grace period to get everything in order and was denied.
It will be interesting to see how this new model works out for Nova Scotia and Ontario. The cannabis industry worldwide is setting precedents and squashing stigmas and it is a good thing indeed.
