So pot smokers will have the choice between driving across town to one of seven official pot stores (if the ALCB is any guide) in the city to get expensive weed in a brightly-lit government dispensary, or getting it from their buddy Terry from work. I wonder which they'll choose...
I thought the idea was to undermine organized crime. With all the restrictions and half-measures they're putting in place, the illegal pot market is hardly going to be impacted at all.
Terry is going to lower his prices! SCORE!
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Also, at least initially, weed is going to have heavy restrictions on the advertising, packaging and branding. Very much the opposite of alcohol. They don't fit together at all.
That analogy doesn't really work at all. We're talking about mixing alcohol and weed, not chips and chocolate bars. I get the point you are making, but they really want to make a distinct separation of the two, which in my opinion is really the best idea for public safety
I'm happy the separation is there. Also, from a business point of view, why should the liquor stores just be handed the keys to a brand new industry? What do they know about the industry?
I'm sorry but you're just flat out wrong here. What is the added risk of mixing a 6 pack of beer and a mickey of vodka, versus mixing a 6 pack and a joint? You're still into the same impaired territory, and not really any added risk physically, potentially even reduced risks. This is going back to "war on drugs" type arguments, making MJ out to be a real risk.
Why are you arguing that liquor store employees know nothing of marijuana? What do liquor store employees know about liquor? They're just retail employees, they know nothing about liquor. Either way it will be staffed with minimum wage people with limited knowledge.
Liquor Barn is not staffed with Sommeliers and thinking otherwise is being obtuse.
Fact of the matter is the AB gov't has indicated it will be distributed through AGLC (just like alcohol), so why not use the existing infrastructure on the front end too?
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So pot smokers will have the choice between driving across town to one of seven official pot stores (if the ALCB is any guide) in the city to get expensive weed in a brightly-lit government dispensary, or getting it from their buddy Terry from work. I wonder which they'll choose...
I thought the idea was to undermine organized crime. With all the restrictions and half-measures they're putting in place, the illegal pot market is hardly going to be impacted at all.
Yup. This is exactly why I'm calling that idea stupid. General government incompetence means an "AWCB" store system would guarantee the black market continues to thrive. But also, weed sales is not an essential government or public service. Let private industry deal with it.
That analogy doesn't really work at all. We're talking about mixing alcohol and weed, not chips and chocolate bars. I get the point you are making, but they really want to make a distinct separation of the two, which in my opinion is really the best idea for public safety
I'm happy the separation is there. Also, from a business point of view, why should the liquor stores just be handed the keys to a brand new industry? What do they know about the industry?
But practically speaking, how does separating them help prevent joint consumption? Given the short timeline, I think that private pot stores and liquor stores should have been aloud so they could roll it out quickly. I don't think private stores will have the capacity on day 1.
If they decide to use government run stores the bureaucracy is going to ensure Alberta will never make money on pot and it will be nothing but a drain on the taxpayer. stupid, stupid idea.
At the very least I hope they wait and see how it fails in Ontario before going ahead.
One thing I still worry about is being able to properly test for impaired drivers.
The best way to avoid a union shop at the government's expense - new government - privatization with buyouts at the government's expense boondoggle is to have overwhelming opinion for private stores right now.
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I don't get it; how could they think Public owned stores is a good idea when we so recently got away with it for alcohol? Just because Ontario has built their near-monopoly into their societal fabric doesn't mean its a good idea for everyone.
I'm sorry but you're just flat out wrong here. What is the added risk of mixing a 6 pack of beer and a mickey of vodka, versus mixing a 6 pack and a joint? You're still into the same impaired territory, and not really any added risk physically, potentially even reduced risks. This is going back to "war on drugs" type arguments, making MJ out to be a real risk.
Why are you arguing that liquor store employees know nothing of marijuana? What do liquor store employees know about liquor? They're just retail employees, they know nothing about liquor. Either way it will be staffed with minimum wage people with limited knowledge.
Liquor Barn is not staffed with Sommeliers and thinking otherwise is being obtuse.
Fact of the matter is the AB gov't has indicated it will be distributed through AGLC (just like alcohol), so why not use the existing infrastructure on the front end too?
I'm not flat out wrong here. You are demonstrating an extreme lack of knowledge about marijuana.
Marijuana does not equal alcohol, so please stop trying to equate the two. If you think it affects you the same, then I can't help you there.
As far as having knowledgeable employees, the government has already indicated this will be necessary and regulated. Public Education is going to be a huge initiative going forward with recreational being leagalized, and having trained staff on the front lines is going to be a very important part of that process.
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I'm not flat out wrong here. You are demonstrating an extreme lack of knowledge about marijuana.
Marijuana does not equal alcohol, so please stop trying to equate the two. If you think it affects you the same, then I can't help you there.
As far as having knowledgeable employees, the government has already indicated this will be necessary and regulated. Public Education is going to be a huge initiative going forward with recreational being leagalized, and having trained staff on the front lines is going to be a very important part of that process.
Do you think the private stores will have the capacity to service the market by July 1?
Do you think the private stores will have the capacity to service the market by July 1?
Hey now, the AB gov't said there will be an online course for any sales staff. Nevermind the fact that it was more about how to ID people and properly sell (and not about being a connoisseur). Having done a number of eLearns I can tell you it will make them experts in the art of selling MJ and the literally hundreds of strains available and potential health risks.
Just like they do for alcohol, which is 100x times more dangerous
Do you think the private stores will have the capacity to service the market by July 1?
There are already hundreds of dispensaries up and running, if our gov't would stop trying to reinvent the wheel I think they could easily scale up to handle demand.
Do you think the private stores will have the capacity to service the market by July 1?
I think they will have a way better chance at meeting that guideline then government run stores. Bureaucracy red tape is going to be bad enough as it is.
I am also not convinced that the Licensed Producers are going to be able to meet retail demand come July 1st.
From what I have heard, the City of Calgary (at least the economic development side) is pushing hard for private as well. It's better overall for the economy, will create more jobs, and competition is always better for the consumer.
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The best way to avoid a union shop at the government's expense - new government - privatization with buyouts at the government's expense boondoggle is to have overwhelming opinion for private stores right now.
Oh I support private, I just don't see why they wouldn't take advantage of infrastructure in place (liquor stores) initially, becuase I disagree with the premise of not selling both in the same location.
I do think they should allow online sales initially though, I thought that was part of the plan. It would solve some of the problems of not having enough store fronts.
Y'know, Having travelling to other provinces that have government run liquor stores I can't say I've noticed they being any worse then the private ones here. I put down private in the survey but only because I'm certain that they'll probably #### up their implementation and then the UCP (or whomever) will then subsequently #### up the privatization... may as well skip to the second #### up and avoid the first.
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Originally Posted by Fuzz
I do think they should allow online sales initially though, I thought that was part of the plan. It would solve some of the problems of not having enough store fronts.
Yeah, I noticed that as well. It's a really overly tepid... I mean I support doing it to just get the "yes" and then letting the reality of it override the historantics of the nervious nellies and puritans... but it's seriously anti-fun. No online sales/home delivery? Bad Idea, No cafe/communal consumption sites? What you guys don't like Pubs?
I mean ok guys, do whatever you got to do politically to get to the yes... but you're wasting a lot of future time altering the regs with the go slow.
I have no idea why they are so hesitant to use existing liquor stores to sell all this stuff.
They already have regulations and training to make sure that the stuff stays out of kids hands....why not use it?
Some elements of the government aren't fully onboard with legalization, and they're tying themselves up in knots over how to legalize it while still sending a message that's it's bad and dangerous and people really shouldn't use it.
It's the same kind of foggy, irrational thinking behind prohibitions on liquor stores being located beside gas stations. We can't in any way connect the purchase of liquor with driving, even though 95 per cent of people drive to buy liquor.
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Originally Posted by fotze
If this day gets you riled up, you obviously aren't numb to the disappointment yet to be a real fan.
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I have no idea why they are so hesitant to use existing liquor stores to sell all this stuff.
They already have regulations and training to make sure that the stuff stays out of kids hands....why not use it?
I mentioned a few reasons earlier in the thread, but another thing I didn't mention was that the products have very different storage requirements that existing liquor stores won't be able to meet. Temperatures, humidities, expiration times, etc. Retail liquor stores are not equipped to handle marijuana.
