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Supply can't keep up with consumers hungry for edible cannabis

Curious about edibles? Good luck finding them in Calgary without some persistence

Helen Pike · CBC News · Posted: Jan 23, 2020 5:12 PM MT
Last Updated: 11 minutes ago

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/cannabis-edibles-calgary-stock-1.5438253

Finding edibles in Calgary isn't a casual, chill affair. The newly launched way to ingest legal cannabis is flying off shelves across the city.

Marijuana edibles became available in some stores across the city more than a week ago. And for the first time since legalization, stores began to stock shelves with gummies, chocolates, cookies, mints and cannabis teas.

And, of course, it's sparked some curiosity.

But getting your hands on edible product is easier said than done.

Mylann Doell, manager at Queen of Bud in Sunalta, says if you aren't one of the first 100 customers to walk through the doors on delivery day (Monday), you've missed out.

"They come in on Mondays, we sell out of them on Mondays," Doell said. "Just like — constantly letting our customers down."

The other issue she says they face is consistency. If they put in an order one week, they may not be able to stock the same variety of chocolate or gummy the next week. So, if a customer likes a specific product, she says they try to help them find it. But it's not always on Queen of Bud shelves.

But they are encountering new clientele.

Doell says they are seeing a lot of new faces, along with some seasoned smokers looking to branch out and try something new.


"Definitely lots of new faces because they're not comfortable smoking and they wanted to try the edible route," Doell said. "They find that it's more fun to eat a candy or even chocolate bar compared to just like taking the oil."

CBC News called a number of stores across Calgary and heard similar stories. While some still have a limited stock, many are struggling to keep edibles on their shelves consistently.

Quantity expected to increase

Heather Holmen is an AGLC spokesperson. She says the edible supply issue is similar to what consumers and stores saw when cannabis initially rolled out in stores across Alberta.

"We are expecting quantity and selection to increase, but based on the newness of the industry, there is limited product right now," Holmen said. "In Alberta, we have more than 400 licensed retail stores. So the AGLC is working hard to ensure that retailers have access to the limited inventory."

Holmen says it's hard to say when exactly these details will be ironed out. That's up to the producers who are manufacturing the product. But more availability is expected to roll out in the coming weeks and months.