The prohibition of cannabis in Canada has been in effect since 1923. Recently, on 17th October 2018, Alberta, a province in Canada, eased the restrictions on cannabis consumption and therefore legalized it. Private companies in this region can now sell cannabis at retail stores.
Many more provinces within Canada, such as Ontario, have followed in the same footsteps but have yet to legalize it fully.
Factors that Led to Alberta’s Status as the New Marijuana Capital
Alberta is the leading region in the production and sale of cannabis. Though it is just a smaller province than others within Canada, it has employed several strategies to become the new marijuana capital.
This article highlights various methods Alberta employed to succeed in the Cannabis industry.
Proper timing
Alberta did not allow itself to be obstructed by key events within it, such as a provincial election that was held almost simultaneously with the ongoing plans to legalize marijuana. At the time, Alberta was in BC and Ontario. Due to this fact, it afforded its municipality council much more time in laying out realistic strategies that would lead to the legalization that was aimed for.
Learning lessons from pioneering states
By the time of the legalization of Cannabis in Alberta, nine American states had already legalized its sale. This gave Alberta regulators an upper hand in what to anticipate from the effects of legalization. They picked up lessons from their experiences in the American countries and used them to develop strategies that would counter errors they may have faced and make necessary improvements.
Quick response post-legalization
The authorities in Calgary city, Alberta, brought together health experts and municipal officials for a meeting to define the exact purpose of marijuana legalization. They sought to clarify if it would be for recreation or business and, with that, drafted regulations that would oversee the consumption of the product.
Preparing ways to integrate the business into the local economy
Calgary stuck to a vision to improve people’s livelihood by prioritizing the support of their businesses. Once the legalization was rolled out, they designed an online portal to welcome interested public members to engage in the industry. The number of applicants in the first few hours of launching the online portal was encouraging as the people saw potential in the business.
The stores available were scattered all over the region; therefore, applicants would choose the most suitable areas for them.
Investing in the marijuana business
In the initial stages of the legalization process, Alberta experienced a shortage of Cannabis products, and this was revived when potential investors put in cash to keep it steady. The presence of resilient black markets has also hindered successful implementation.
Conclusion
As a result of the resilience of Alberta, Canada natives in the legalization, billions of dollars in revenue have been garnered from the region. Unemployment rates have drastically reduced as about nine thousand Canadians have been absorbed into the Cannabis industry. This has made Alberta to be the world’s leading producer of marijuana.
