Private companies take over online cannabis sales in Alberta |

Privately owned cannabis dispensaries in Alberta, Canada, will be able to accept online orders for cannabis products for home delivery to customers, under new provincial regulations that go into effect next month.

Under new rules passed by lawmakers last year, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) will stop accepting online orders for cannabis products on March 8th. At the same time, licensed, privately owned dispensaries will take over online cannabis sales across the province. But before online sales can begin, pharmacies must first update their license to sell online and the AGLC must approve e-commerce sites before going live.

AGLC spokeswoman Karin Campbell said cannabis ordering sites must have a “robust” system for verifying the age of customers placing orders. In addition, buyers who appear to be under the age of 25 at the time of delivery must identify themselves to the driver. So far, no retailer has received confirmation from the AGLC for its website, Campbell noted, although she said several companies have said they are ready to start accepting online orders from March 8.

Pharmacies are preparing for the start

To prepare for the change, brick-and-mortar pharmacies are busy preparing their websites and expanding their home delivery infrastructure. High Tide, a company that operates 58 canna-cabana stores in Alberta and already sells cannabis online in the provinces of Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, is working with the AGLC to finalize its plan for online cannabis sales and home delivery give begin on start date on March 8th.

“We’ve done a pretty good job of securely conducting online sales and home deliveries,” Chief Revenue Officer Andy Palalas told CBC. “It’s an important part of our strategy to fight the illicit market.”

On Tuesday, High Tide announced that it was rolling out its new on-demand cannabis delivery program at select Canna Cabana locations in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, with plans to expand the service to Alberta if regulators permit. Under the new program, customers are guaranteed that all online orders from participating stores will be delivered within two hours of placing their order, or at a customer-selected hourly time slot outside of the two-hour window.

“In addition to creating a fantastic delivery experience for our customers, this initiative also represents a proactive and thoughtful approach to compete with and dissuade consumers from the illicit cannabis market, which we know remains resilient in part due to its offering of unregulated delivery services” , High Tide CEO Raj Grover said in a statement from the company. “We plan to roll out this program in all provinces where we operate as soon as possible and I look forward to seeing the growth and success of this program as we roll it out across Canada.”

Dank Cannabis in Alberta is also preparing to start accepting online orders for home delivery of cannabis products starting next month’s launch date. Currently, customers can place orders on the pharmacy’s website for pickup within hours. A spokesman for Dank Cannabis said the launch of online ordering for delivery will streamline cannabis purchasing for its customers.

“The landmark ruling in Alberta allows cannabis connoisseurs to enjoy their marijuana in the comfort of their own homes,” the spokesman told Digital Journal. “On our carefully designed, feature-rich website, you can choose to your heart’s content and watch your favorite products arrive at your doorstep with no extra effort.”

Not all pharmacies will be ready

However, some cannabis retailers are unsure if they will be ready to start accepting online orders for home delivery starting March 8th. Matthew Anderson, vice president of legal, business affairs and compliance at cannabis retailer Fire & Flower, told reporters that he doesn’t believe the retailer’s 42 dispensaries in Alberta would start accepting online orders for delivery on launch day home will start.

“We are on track in terms of timing and based on the responses I’ve received so far I’m not optimistic that March 8th will be the day we start delivering in Alberta” said Anderson.

However, not all licensed pharmacies in Alberta are interested in taking online orders for home delivery. Catherine Hill, the owner of It’s 420 Somewhere dispensaries in High Level, Alberta, and Hay River, Northwest Territories, said she expects Alberta’s cannabis supply market to become saturated with competition.

“Anyone will do it,” she said.

Instead, It’s 420 Somewhere will focus on providing its customers with an engaging store experience.

“A lot of people also just love to walk in and talk to their local budtender,” Hill explained.