Six months after the legalization of cannabis, Westlock remains a dry town for legal product.
Harvest Country Cannabis, Fire and Flower Cannabis and Clarity Cannabis remain shuttered due to Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis’ retail licensing moratorium that’s been in place since November.
Harvest Country Cannabis owner Joe Renaud said the store has passed AGLC inspection and is ready to open, if not for the moratorium. Just over a month after the Oct. 17 legalization day, AGLC announced it would not be granting further licences to retail stores until further notice due to a nationwide shortage of product.
“We are No. 42 on the list,” said Renaud. “We’re on the short list. There’s 100 on the list from what I’ve heard and that’s as much as we know.”
AGLC signed agreements with 15 federally-licensed producers, some of which were able to meet their commitment, while others could not. AGLC ordered enough cannabis from licensed producers to supply 250 stores across the province for six months, but received only 20 per cent of its order.
“I just can’t understand why the licensed producers have been unable to step up to the plate and do their job. They were given all the opportunity in the world to get ready for this,” said Renaud.
“I’m hoping this will sort itself out when we start seeing more craft growers in the business.”
Town get cannabis funding
The Town of Westlock has received $35,536 via the provincial Municipal Cannabis Transition Program for 2018/2019.
The money, which comes from Municipal Affairs, is to “offset increased enforcement and administrative costs related to cannabis legalization.” For 2018 they got $1,050 for municipal enforcement-policing and $27,825 for municipal administration. For 2019 they’re receiving $2,000 for policing and $4,661 for administration.
As for when the three shops receive their licences and can open, the town is in the dark.
“The town does not get direct notification from Alberta Gaming and Liquor, it’s the same as if a new liquor store opened in town. We don’t get direct notification if they’ve been approved either,” said interim CAO Simone Wiley.
“I’ve spoken to one of the retailers in town and they are approved. Everything is ready but they cannot get their licence from AGLC.”
Mayor Ralph Lergier said knowing how much people and companies have invested, he’s surprised there hasn’t been legal action.
“Everything I’ve read it’s about supply. With the amount of money that’s been invested in this across the country and in this town … the implementation of this has been very, very poor. I’m surprised there hasn’t been lawsuits already,” said Leriger.
