Young Albertans’ penchant for pot retailer’s dream

Poll finds up to 15 per cent of Calgarians between 18 and 34 purchased legal weed

As many as 15 per cent of Calgarians aged 18 to 34 purchased legal pot in the first days following prohibition’s end, according to a study commissioned by a cannabis industry lobby group.

In that age group — the most likely to consume the drug — nine per cent polled by Insights Matter said they purchased pot at retail stores with another six per cent indicating they’d purchased it from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis website.

Based on those numbers, that would add up to 67,000 adult Calgarians, said the online survey conducted for Cannabiz Social among 432 random adults from Oct. 22 to30.

“That would be encouraging from a retailer’s perspective,” said Derek Blair, president of Insights Matter.

But he acknowledged those numbers could have been considerably larger if not constrained by the limited amount of cannabis available and a mere handful of stores to sell it.

Among those surveyed, four per cent purchased from a store and overall three per cent bought online.

“Another seven per cent tried to shop, but weren’t able to do so. They were suppressed by lack of capacity or long lineups,” said Blair.

Statistics Canada data from earlier this year stated 26 per cent of the 25- to 34-year-old age group in the country consumes cannabis, making it the most likely demographic to do so.

Possibly attracted by the future arrival of legal edibles, 212 of the Insights Matters respondents indicated they might some day try cannabis.

“You have almost 50 per cent of Calgarians who are open to the idea, saying it might be something we’d do,” said Blair.

Calgarians are also bullish on the economic merits of legalized pot with 61 per cent saying it’ll have a positive effect.

But another 72 per cent expressed concern about the effect of legalization on impaired driving.

“Calgarians are still really torn about the impact ... they’re still scared to death about what will happen on the roads,” said Blair.

The survey’s single-digit legal consumption numbers could suggest illicit cannabis remains a major player in Calgary, at least for now, said AGLC spokeswoman Kaleigh Miller.

Statistics Canada said 17 per cent of Alberta adults are cannabis consumers.

“I’m sure there were definitely people who were purchasing from the black market and do so still,” she said, adding total AGLC online sales numbers are not available.

That black market is driven partly by a continued limited supply of legal product, a situation that should improve over an uncertain amount of time, said Miller.

As of Tuesday, 55 cannabis shops have been granted AGLC licences throughout the province, though many of those have yet to open,

Calgarians are still really torn about the impact ... they’re still scared to death about what will happen on the roads.

due partly to lack of available inventory.

But Miller said Calgarians’ confidence in the economic benefits of legal cannabis is heartening.

“It’s definitely the stance we’re taking,” she said.

A common desire to purchase Alberta-produced cannabis expressed in the survey, said Miller, is also in line with the commission’s own priorities.

The AGLC and the retailers it supplies say the most popular cannabis products are the more potent strains.

Four20 Premium Market’s most sought-after products are also those promising convenience, said the retailer’s president Jeff Mooij.

“Pre-rolls ( joints) are our biggest seller,” he said, adding a penlike pipe that delivers a single puff is their most popular accessory.

The Insights Matter poll is accurate within plus or minus 4.7 per cent 19 times out of 20.