As provinces move towards establishing their own rules and regulations for legal cannabis, stakeholders are busy lobbying the government for their place in the future industry.
In Alberta, several companies are looking to discuss their thoughts with the government, especially the Alberta Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General, the ministry responsible for legalization in the province.
Ontario-based Emblem Cannabis is advocating for a private marijuana sector and interested in economic development opportunities as a potential licenced producer in the province.
Another company, Fire & Flower, with an address listed in Toronto, is also interested in advocating for a private model for marijuana retail for Alberta. Fire & Flower describe themselves as a developing corporation that is going through the rigorous process of marketing and brand development in the face of federal legislation.
An Alberta association, Construction Labour Relations (CLR) is lobbying the provincial government to get clarification on employers' ability to use testing protocols as part of the solution to ensuring workplaces safety in the wake of legalization. CLR is an employers' association representing construction companies in collective bargaining with the Building Trades Unions, collective agreement administration, labour law matters, and joint initiatives with other industry stakeholders.
A late stage LP applicant, Amber Canada Inc. says they plan to inform the Alberta Government of the merits of considering a socially-responsible cannabis retail model in partnership with the private sector, drawing on the company's experience in healthcare, government, food and beverage, retail and franchising, finance, and bio-tech.
Another group is Legalize Private Retail, made up of 420 Clinic in Calgary, Aurora Cannabis, Liquor Stores N.A. in Edmonton and Smokers Corner in Calgary. The groups says they want to provide information to the Government of Alberta in support of a private retail model.
Cam Battley, the Executive Vice President of Aurora, says the aim of the group is to try and promote the idea that a private retail system will be better for the province and for consumers.
We approach this from different complementary perspectives. We each have different strengths and different perspectives, but weve got a common vision, and thats really particularly useful. Youve got an education clinic, youve got a licenced producer, youve got a liquor department, a vape shopwe all have different perspectives and strengths we bring to the table.
What were doing is were advocating for a private retail model in Alberta that will promote and protect public safety and take the risk and the cost out of the government's hands. We think that the private model is superior for Alberta because it relieves the government of the cost and the risk associated with this and lets the market take care of the costs and risk.
Ryan Kaye, VP of Operations at 420 Clinic says he sees a private retail model providing more consumer options.
"Independently owned retail cannabis stores would create competition, which would increase the variety of cannabis products available to consumers," says Kaye. "Retailers would quickly specialize, in order to best service their clientele. Some would ...
