First time post, long time holder of Canopy (ok not as long as some of you, but coming up on two years).
I've followed this forum and Canopy closely. As we head towards rec, and Canopy is positioned as the de facto market leader I've paid more attention to the somewhat alarmist but perhaps prescient posts of awesomesound. Hear me out...
Presumably the gov't will be focused on getting rid of the black market - a laudable goal - and the task force has to determine the appropriate pricing/taxation to ensure that authorised sellers have an edge over the black market. As I've witnessed in Toronto, having a retail store front (dispensaries) is a big draw over the 'call a guy and pickup/deliver' model. Having Canopy's products in the LCBO will fulfill a similar need. Maybe independent retail will be permitted later on. So far so good. My concern is quality, however - awesomesound seems to think that Canopy's stuff is bad. I've heard this anecdotally from a friend as well. Contrary to awesound's assertions, I have also seen that most of the stuff on offer at local dispensaries is not top-shelf - it is expensive and while the brand-name strains are there they are not the best examples of what can be grown from those genetics. Paying rent/staff/legal bills must take a toll on profit margins - no wonder they are cheaping out on the product.
The going rate for excellent quality black market product in Toronto averages around $8.50-10 a gram (on a $220-240 ounce maybe higher if it's really special). In a dispensary $8.50 doesn't get you far, the Emery's went as high as $300-320 an ounce. Sure, on paper some of their offerings are nice but I've found the actual quality to be inferior to the true black market 'I know a guy' channels.
The question I have for you (especially those who have access to Canopy's products) is what's the deal with the allegedly low quality stuff Canopy has been producing? Is this myth or fact? Are stock issues a result of the huge 'biological inventory' not being up to snuff to be sold as raw flower?
What happens if rec goes ahead, and Canopy is still selling/providing bunk? I can see quality of product being ignored in the gov't calculations in squashing the black market.
Offering third party products (as announced today) signals to me they know that their mass-produced stuff is a risk, that it's not 'great'. I'm pleased as an investor, but curious about why they are having problems.
Curious to see your thoughts, I'm in this for the long-run, but increasingly think the strategy is morphing as Canopy perhaps sees the actual growing of MJ as a risk/not sufficiently lucrative.
Thanks for reading, and posting for the past two years - it's been very informative as a jumping off point to my own DD.
AI
