GET READY FOR WEED CAFES
Calgary is ramping up preparations for businesses supplying cannabis-infused baked goods, candies, beverages and meals as it awaits the provincial green light some time next year. “It’s something that’s going to evolve quite rapidly,” says the city’s lead
As Calgary communities keep fighting to keep pot retailers out of their neighbourhoods, city officials are busy working on preparations for possible edible cannabis cafes.
City planners are working on the assumption the province will green-light edible consumption businesses once Ottawa ends prohibition on such products sometime next year, said Matt Zablonski, the city’s lead on marijuana legalization.
“Oct. 17 was certainly a big day but was not the finish line. This is the next big piece on our radar,” he said, referring to the day last month when cannabis was legalized. “There’s probably just as much work if not more in preparing things like land use and business licence requirements (for edible pot lounges).”
While the city hasn’t seen any formal requests from entrepreneurs on edible cafes, “there’s been a lot of people informally express interest in the edible business.”
Zablonski acknowledged the considerable pushback in some neighbourhoods that have included appealing city approval of some cannabis stores.
“(Cafes) are likely to be another round of concern, so that’s why we want to be thorough in our preparation, to reflect the views of Calgarians,” he said.
There are few models on such cafes to work from, though one in Denver, Colo., is a bring-your-own business that doesn’t sell the product, said Zablonski.
“We haven’t made any determination on what they’d look like,” he said, adding smoking cannabis in such places appears out of the question.
The province has said it wouldn’t make a decision on the topic of cannabis cafes until the federal government clears the way for the lawful sale and use of marijuana edibles.
If Ottawa does give its sanction as expected, a variety of products ranging from baked goods, candies, cannabis-infused beverages and prepared meals could become available, if not at cafes.
Over the past year, cannabis producers have been busy teaming with beverage makers to marry the two.
“We expect to have vapes and beverages by the second half of 2019,” said Bruce Linton, head of cannabis producing giant Canopy Growth Inc., which supplies the Alberta market.
City officials have been in contact with American states that have already legalized cannabis edibles and seen their popularity increase rapidly, said Zablonski.
“In Denver, it’s approaching 50 per cent of all cannabis use … it’s something that’s going to evolve quite rapidly,” he said.
Many in the industry say orally consumed cannabis will greatly expand the market, particularly among those averse to smoking.
In Canada currently, legal edibles are limited to cannabis oil in bottled or gel cap form.
Cannabis cafes of any kind are a pipe dream, said Jeff Mooij, president of marijuana retailer Four20 Premium Market.
“It’s not like you can just open up a bake shop and sell it. No one’s ever opened one, not even in Colorado after five years of legalization,” he said.
“People here just don’t understand what they’re talking about.”
He said edibles will come but will be available only at retail shops where they can’t be consumed.
Some in the medical community, along with Mooij, warn an escalation in the consumption of edibles will lead to more emergency room admissions.
Mooij said the city’s decision to ban all public cannabis smoking is short-sighted and will lead to just that.
“Making it restrictive to smoke will drive more people to edibles and more people to the hospital,” he said.
But for now, Mooij is more concerned with opening additional stores since starting operations at one Calgary location on Oct. 17.
“I can’t open another until we get some supply,” he said.
Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis, the provincial regulator/distributor and online retailer, says some suppliers aren’t living up to expectation in delivering pot inventory.
It’s not like you can just open up a bake shop and sell it. No one’s ever opened one, not even in Colorado.