Recently, the New Brunswick provincial government announced its plans to operate recreational cannabis retail sale and distribution through a subsidiary run by the crown corporation, NB Liquor.
Organigram applauds the province for adopting the model, poised to support the company’s commitment to social responsibility and responsible consumption.
“NB Liquor has established itself by running a solid retail distribution system and has committed to operate its cannabis sales with even greater regulation and control than the existing retail network of liquor stores,” said Organigram CEO Greg Engel, following Wednesday’s announcement. “We feel strongly that this model will foster an environment and a retail adult recreational cannabis market in New Brunswick that’s not only safe and responsible, but also commercially successful.”
The model draws from a number of best practices established in legalized recreational states, including Colorado and Washington. Stores will be will be age-gated, requiring shoppers to provide government identification upon entry. Locations will kept more than 300 metres from schools and playgrounds and won’t feature public-facing displays.
Products will be kept under glass and staff will be highly trained. Consumers will be offered a one-on-one retail experience with staff educated on products and their effects.
“Combining strict safety measures with a personalized shopping experience will help keep communities safe, contribute to shutting out the black market and provide consumers with the education and attention they need to make informed decisions about the cannabis products they purchase in welcoming environment. It’s win-win,” says Organigram’s chief commercial officer Ray Gracewood.
Stores will be stand-alone locations, offering cannabis products for sale. Initially, 20 locations will operate in 15 communities in the province. Online sales will also be offered with the option to pick-up in store or have cannabis delivered to a residence.
Combining brick-and-mortar retail sales with the added option to order cannabis online offers consumers purchase flexibility and ensures those in all areas of the province – including communities in which a retail location may not exist initially – can access safe, high-quality recreational cannabis without having to turn to the black market.
According to a recent survey Organigram conducted in collaboration with TGS International, a cannabis company which owns manufacturing facilities as well as medicinal and/or adult-use retail locations in the state of Colorado, first-time buyers prefer a fulsome retail experience, because they value an educated, accessible staff and they want to be able to see, touch and smell the product to better understand what they’re buying.
“We’ve been advocating for these measures for some time,” Engel says, “They support our research on consumer preference in legalized markets and we feel will contribute to a second-to-none retail market – and one other provinces may look to model – right here in New Brunswick.”
For further information, please contact: Organigram Holdings Inc.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Organigram Holdings Inc.
Greg Engel
Chief Executive Officer
gengel@organigram.ca
Organigram Holdings Inc.
Ray Gracewood
Chief Commercial Officer
(506) 645-1653
rgracewood@organigram.ca