Dankr.ca – Your Toronto Connection
Article by Jean Laroche, CBC News
The Nova Scotia government is calling an initial nine-store network for the province’s cannabis sales “a reasonable approach” as the country moves toward a legalized marijuana market this summer.
But Justice Minister Mark Furey admitted Tuesday there are gaps in that network — most notably in the Annapolis Valley, along the South Shore and in the Strait region, none of which will have retail outlets selling cannabis.
“I don’t believe that we would ever be able to provide a retail model in every community,” he told a news conference. “So communities will look to other options — and we believe that the online home delivery will be a key piece of that.”
While one of the stated goals of legalized marijuana is to try to kill illicit trade of the drug, Furey acknowledged the province would initially likely fall short of that. “The black market will continue to exist,” he said.
Halifax home to pot-only outlet
Nova Scotia had announced in December that cannabis would be sold alongside beer, wine and spirits at some Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. locations. A list of the first stores that will stock marijuana was released Tuesday:
- Amherst — 126 South Albion St.
- Dartmouth — 650 Portland St.
- Halifax — 3601 Joseph Howe Dr.
- Lower Sackville — 752 Sackville Dr.
- New Glasgow — 610 East River Rd.
- Sydney River — 95 Keltic Dr.
- Truro — 6 Court St.
- Yarmouth — 104a Starrs Rd.
The NSLC will also be reopening the Clyde Street liquor store in downtown Halifax as a cannabis-only operation.
The government plans to do a reassessment after one year.
Six of the nine stores were chosen because they currently house bottle-your-own-wine facilities, which will be replaced by boxed-in counters where customers will be able to buy cannabis seeds and flowers, along with dried leaves.
