Alberta is relaxing its cannabis distribution laws even more by enabling marijuana sales at events where minors are present.
The prairie province’s Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) announced the move in a bulletin shared via its website on Jul. 16.
The news follows Alberta becoming the first province to permit cannabis sales at 18+ festivals and trade shows in late 2023.
“Effective immediately, cannabis store licensees may apply to AGLC for an extension of their licence to temporarily sell cannabis at events and festivals where minors are permitted,” read the announcement.
The news was well received by the Calgary-based company Plantlife Cannabis. The distributor called attention to the change in a press release on Thursday, expressing excitement about the expanded distribution possibilities.
“With multiple major festivals on the summer calendar, Plantlife is positioned to be among the first to legally sell cannabis on-site under the new framework,” the retailer stated.
Plantlife will be setting up shop at the Country Thunder festival in Calgary next month in an adults only zone. Minors are permitted to be present elsewhere on the festival grounds.
Furthermore, according to the company, Plantlife is already the first in Alberta to have set up a retail booth in adherence with the new regulations. Many attendees at the Rockin’ Thunder event in Edmonton, held on Jul. 11-12, were 17 and under.
“This was a historic moment,” said VP of Operations Ian Scott. “We’re proud to be leading this shift.”
Scott explained that he, fellow managers and other industry stakeholders collaborated with the AGLC leading up to last week’s announcement.
“Cannabis has been legal for over six years and Alberta continues to refine rules to cut red tape while protecting public health,” said Government of Alberta Press Secretary, Brandon Aboultaif, in a statement obtained by Everything Grand Prairie.
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