ALBERTA NAMES POT SUPPLIERS
Ontario firms dominate local market
Alberta is seen as a prized market by Canada’s cannabis producers, say industry players, as a provincial regulator on Thursday announced 13 licensed firms that will supply soon-to-be-legal product to consumers.
Of the 13 approved companies chosen from 31 applicants, only two currently have operations in Alberta — Aurora Cannabis with a headquarters plus two growing facilities, and Canopy Growth, with a facility in Edmonton.
Even so, Alberta’s cannabis retail model, which includes privately operated shops, has made it an attractive target for suppliers, said Jeff Mooij, president of Calgary’s 420 Premium Market, which hopes to sell recreational pot once legalization takes effect Oct. 17.
“Alberta’s seen as a No. 1 or 1A destination — those companies can supply a robust market in Alberta,” said Mooij, who advised the province on the process, noting Ontario takes a government-run approach.
“That is a pain to deal with.” One of the 13 companies, Ontario-based Emblem Cannabis sees Alberta as its No. 2 market after its home province, partly for the same reason cited by Mooij, said its president Nick Dean.
“We’re able to establish a relationship directly at the retail level that can create demand for the product,” said Dean.
“We saw a lot of appetite for innovation and business development.”
Up to 40 per cent of its product, which includes one marijuana strain dubbed Super Sonic, will be marketed in Alberta for the first year through prospective Edmonton-based retailer Fire and Flower, he said.
And given the province’s relative affluence, Emblem will target that market with pricier, higher-quality bud, added Dean.
Aurora currently has facilities in Mountain View County and near the Edmonton International Airport, and will be opening a third facility in Medicine Hat later this year.
All of the other companies, with the exception of one from New Brunswick, operate primarily out of Ontario.
Despite the large amount of Ontario-based providers to kick off legalization, Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission communications manager Heather Holmen said specific criteria may have excluded some Alberta-based companies.
“First and foremost, the criteria for any one entity or individual that would be producing cannabis products, they are required to be federally licensed,” said Holmen.
Some of those that didn’t make the first cut may now be federally licensed, said Holmen
Holmen added they’re looking to get more producers based out of Alberta.
“We currently are in discussions with licensed producers as they are becoming available to provide for the Alberta market,” she said.
Aurora COO Cam Battley said they were excited to hear the news.
“We’re excited — we always planned to make a commitment to Alberta because that is our home,” he said.
Battley said they have allocated 25,000 kilograms for the first six months of cannabis legalization, and that there would be a “wide range” of dried flowers, oils and capsules.
Producers were able to apply up until the middle of February.
Albertans will be able to purchase cannabis through as many as 700 stores — more than 200 hope to open in Calgary — or through the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission at albertacannabis.org.