Festival Cannabis Deliveries Get Green Light in Alberta
Fans attending events in Alberta will be able to order festival cannabis deliveries this summer. Nathan Mison, president of Diplomat Consulting, said that it’s a first for Canada.
“This is a big deal. Alberta has been very willing to have unique and beneficial conversations on this,” Mison said.
Under new rules, which came into effect March 8, festivals can offer a designated consumption area where event-goers can receive cannabis deliveries. The policy change is part of a larger move that allows cannabis retailers in the province to sell online and set up a delivery service.
However, there are several catches. One is that the cannabis deliveries consumed at festivals can only be edibles, beverages, and related products. No cannabis smoking or vaping will be allowed. Mison is optimistic that eventually that too will be allowed.
“We do know (that allowing smoking at festivals) would be another reason for government consternation,” Mison said. “We do believe we can get there, that we can push for that… we know in the long term there’ll be a combustible garden.”
Other smaller catches are that the festival itself cannot provide cannabis deliveries, and alcohol cannot be allowed in the consumption area.
There is at least one other major catch though: everything is also subject to municipal by-laws. For example, if Alberta does allow combustible cannabis in the future, it would still be disallowed in Calgary, which has a ban on public cannabis smoking.
Cannabis Deliveries Now Permanent in Ontario
Ontario also announced that cannabis deliveries as well as curbside pickup would now be permanent as of March 15. Ontario first closed cannabis stores in March 2020 with the first wave of COVID, but temporarily allowed curbside pickup and delivery.
Bubba Nicholson, the vice-president of business development and ethos at Thrive Cannabis in Simcoe, Ont., applauded the move. He said this will help cannabis retailers draw customers.
“We need to empower the retailers to be able to try and get customers in their door either virtual or bricks and mortar as best they can,” Nicholson said.
Again, there will be limitations. For example, cannabis deliveries must be from established retailers and cannot be the predominant part of the business. In theory, this move will ensure a level playing field for all retailers in the market. The fear is that cannabis deliveries could undermine established stores in a situation similar to “ghost kitchens” in the restaurant market.
“We…support the Ontario regulations because they limit the ability of any one operator from dominating the cannabis e-commerce market,” said Omar Khan, senior vice-president of corporate and public affairs at High Tide Inc. “This will drive competition and help ensure greater choice for consumers.”
In November 2021, Uber Eats partnered with Tokyo Smoke for in-app ordering. It is unclear if this could now be used for delivery in Ontario.
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