In pursuit of pot
Newfoundlanders brave cold, wet, windy night to be the first to buy legal cannabis in Canada
Anticipation ran high as the clock ticked closer to midnight Tuesday on Water Street in St. John’s.
Once the countdown concluded and Wednesday arrived, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians became the first Canadians who could legally buy cannabis and get high.
Nikki Rose, from southern Labrador, and Ian Power of St. John’s were the first to enter Canopy Growth’s Tweed location, becoming among the first customers to legally purchase cannabis in the country’s history.
“Here we go. You did it. The first legal receipt issued in Canada. In your bags, Health Canada information and your product. Thank you very much,” said Canopy Growth CEO Barry Linton, who sold the pair their cannabis.
“Congratulations. You made history. We all made history.”
Rose, whose boyfriend manages the Kenmount Road Canopy Growth location, says it’s surreal to be at the focal point of history.
“I think it’s very monumental that Newfoundland, just because of our time zone, is going to be the first to legalize, which is super exciting,” said Rose.
“I don’t really have words to describe how excited I am.”
For Power, legalization of cannabis in Canada isn’t just about recreation.
“It’s given me my life back. I used to wake up every morning with severe migraines. I was hit by a drunk driver many years ago,” he said.
“Cannabis lets me have my day normal, without headaches, without any pain.”
The lineup at the Water Street location stretched down Clift-baird’s Cove, at least 200 people strong when the clock struck midnight. A similar line was found at the Healthy Vibe, also on Water Street.
At Thomas H. Clarke’s Distribution in Portugal Cove, where Thomas Clarke sold his father his first legal cannabis, a line of customers stretched 150 people deep.
Soon after midnight, Clarke came outside to greet the crowd. With both fists raised, Clarke shouted, “The first sale of legal Canadian weed!”
The crowd responded with cheers, applause and several shouts of, “Tommy!”
“This is like the new 4-20,” one young man later said, referring to April 20, a date that in recent years has seen rallies and smoke-ins across the country in support of legalization.
Inside the store, which also features an array of paraphernalia such as T-shirts and toking tools, a customer who inquired about seeds was told that none were available yet anywhere in the province.
“The Newfoundland Liquor Corp. hasn’t been able to find a seed supplier that is approved by Health Canada,” Clarke said.
By 1:30 a.m., most of the customers had been served, but about 50 were still waiting outside, with only 30 minutes to go until the store’s 2 a.m. closing.
Some early morning customers wanted to enjoy the moment, some the product, and others came out to be a part of Canadian history.
“It’s a huge part of history. We’re going to tell our kids about this,” said Ryan Slaney, who lined up with brother Patrick Slaney in the cold, wet, windy St. John’s night.
“History is a big factor of it. But it’s going to change everything to do with how people are getting it, supplying it.”
Patrick Slaney says he hopes the move will lessen the amount of illegal cannabis on the street, but it’s not going to happen overnight.
“I think there’s always going to be a market within Canada, but as years go by, I think studies are going to show it’s going to lower the rate,” he said.
“I’m not going to say from the organized crime perspective, but from the marijuana perspective, I really do think there’s going to be less people supplying illegally on the street. It’s going to be a process.”
In addition to buying cannabis at storefront locations, people can purchase it 24/7 online through shopcannabisnl.com.