SQDC WARNS OF SHORTAGES

Pot’s popularity is straining supply

Quebecers placed more than 42,500 orders for recreational cannabis on Wednesday, the first day of its legalization in Quebec.

According to figures compiled by the Société québécoise du cannabis, more than 12,500 in-person transactions had been conducted within its stores Wednesday, while more than 30,000 had been made online.

But in a statement issued on Thursday, the agency noted that “certain products are listed as unavailable on our website. Given the interest created by legalization and the rarity of these products nationally, the SQDC expects serious supply challenges over the short term for its outlets.

“For online purchases, we expect a lack of products including oils, sprays, gels and pre-rolled joints.”

On Thursday, there were hundreds of people waiting to get into the SQDC store on Ste-Catherine St. for most of the morning. The long lines continued during the day and into the night.

While the crowds around the Montreal outlets might suggest demand may exceed the number of outlets to serve it, SQDC spokesperson Mathieu Gaudreault said on Thursday the agency would monitor customer turnout in the days to come to determine whether the heavy turnout was based on something more than “a curiosity factor.”

He also noted that another outlet in downtown Montreal is expected to open this month.

Gaudreault said the amount of customer traffic online would also be assessed and the necessary steps taken should it become clear Quebec’s desire for legal cannabis is greater than expected.

Another person who will be assessing the SQDC’s ability to deal with customer demand is John Matheson, a would-be client at the agency’s St-Hubert St. outlet in Montreal on Wednesday and Thursday. He said it has been a less than satisfactory customer experience.

“I tried going yesterday,” he said Thursday, noting he joined the line outside the store at 10 a.m. but had to leave it at 11:45 a.m. because of a noontime appointment at his home 15 minutes away. “I thought I’d go back at 5 p.m., they were going to close at 9 p.m., so I thought I’d get in within four hours.”

However, by 7:30 p.m. Matheson had been in line for two and a half hours — and still not inside the store — when store officials announced that they were no longer accepting credit or debit cards for payment, which then sparked a run on a nearby bank machine.

“There was a lineup of more than 50 people trying to get to the bank machine . ... Finally I just left in disgust.”

Matheson had more luck Thursday morning, showing up outside the store early enough to be among the second batch of customers allowed to enter. But it seemed his disappointments were not finished.

“I like Indica,” he said referring to his preferred strain. “I wanted an oral spray … and I wanted to try some Pink Kush. They had neither.”

In the end, Matheson left with what was available. “I don’t like the taste of this. It’s like a brandy drinker being made to drink vodka.”

“To me, this a complete failure of the management of this cannabis (agency). They’ve known for some time that there was going to be some demand for this and to run out after one day in business is a complete sign of incompetence.”

Matheson thinks a market research survey might have tipped off the SQDC as to the extent of demand. “Perhaps then they would have said, ‘Maybe we should be buying it by the truckload rather than the palette load.’ They could have known this a long time ago.

“For me the score is: black market 1, government 0.”

On Wednesday evening, security guards called police as a precaution when it became clear clients waiting outside — in some cases for several hours — would not be able to make their purchases before 9 p.m.

Montreal police confirmed on Thursday that officers were deployed at the L’Acadie Blvd. outlet at 8:50 p.m. and, with the aid of a bullhorn, ordered the crowd to disperse. The customers left without incident.

Police were also present outside the Ste-Catherine St. outlet from 6 p.m. until closing time.

Presse Canadienne

They’ve known for some time that there was going to be some demand for this and to run out after one day in business is a complete sign of incompetence.