Only days after Canada became the world’s largest country to legalise weed, its pot-loving citizens are facing a nation-wide shortage, and dispensary owners claim they’re struggling to keep up with the demand.
The Canadian parliament first voted to legalise marijuana back in June, but it just came into effect last week. According to ABC, around 111 stores opening in the first week alone. The first day saw smokers line up outside stores for hours.
Storefronts and online shops – which all must have licenses to sell the goods – across Newfoundland, Saskatchewan, Quebec and the Northwest Territories all experienced issues with their weed supply.
“We were on the website, but there is nothing on the website. There is no product,” Karen Barry, the owner of Beltline Cannabis in Calgary told CBC.
The industry is estimated to be worth around $6.5 billion in sales, as Fortune reports.
The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC), the body which grants licenses for businesses to sell marijuana, has a website which businesses can buy stock from. Multiple reports say business owners have been unable to buy from the site due to lack of product. Other customers say they aren’t receiving the full amount of stock they first ordered, and even more stores remain totally unopened.
“For me, the score is: black market, 1; government, zero,” one person told the Montreal Gazette after they waited in line to then subsequently be sent home empty-handed.
One online shop based in Winnipeg sold out of their entire stock, selling $50,000 in one morning.
“It’s day four of legalisation … and nobody has all the answers right now,” AGLC spokesperson Heather Holmen told CBC.
This country-wide shortage was expected though – a study from early October by the C.D Howe Institute found that Canada could supply 210 tonnes of weed, but demand would be for around 610 tonnes at least.
