Weed week in Canada: Fines, wines, long lines and online flubs
The highly anticipated start to the legalization of recreational cannabis has come and gone but as Canada continues to work through buying, selling and consumption across the country, here’s what you need to know about the first week of cannabis legalization.
First sales
Legalization day started with the first sale made in St. John’s by Ian Power and Nikki Rose, who lined up at 8:00 p.m. in anticipation of the Tweed store’s opening at midnight on October 17.
If you think 8:00 p.m. is early to start lining up, the Montreal Gazette reported that individuals arrived to cannabis stores as early as 3:45 a.m. to be among the first in the store at 10:00 a.m.
Meanwhile, Ontarians were ordering products online through the government-run website OCS.ca, the only way to legally purchase cannabis products in the province, at this point. Zach Johns is the first person in the province to receive an order from the Ontario Cannabis Store: two products at one gram each, received on October 18.
But the the first day of online sales wasn’t necessarily a perfect launch. Most notably, Ontario’s online store had a mixup with its listing for “intimate” spray, meant to be used to reduce genital inflammation, which was mis-labeled as an oral product to be sprayed under the tongue.
Weed-related marketing
As store lines grew and the online orders were processed, the jokes also continued to roll in and companies started using legalization day as a marketing tool for various products – particularly “munchie” snacks.
Pizza Pizza going for the munchies. pic.twitter.com/54yge6lc2S
— Octopher Clark (@heychristofur) October 17, 2018
Happy 10/17 Buds! For one day only, we have our 10/17 POUTINE! Visit any of our locations and get your hands on our WOW-Sized Traditional…with a little green😉
In store only!! #cannabiscanada #weedwednesday #legalizationday #maryjane pic.twitter.com/rc5Fw1hCKH— Smoke's Poutinerie (@poutinerie) October 17, 2018
Happy legalization day! We’ve got your munchies covered. #legalization #cluckyeah pic.twitter.com/KQQuoJTFmW
— Cluck 'N' Cleaver (@cluckncleaver) October 17, 2018
Got the munchies, Canada? #October17 pic.twitter.com/B1NqVo3dl4
— BeaverTails_Official (@BeaverTails) October 17, 2018
Mmmmm….. We have all the necessary snacks for those cravings! #WeedWednesday #legalizationday #legalization #LegalizationInCanada #canadacannabis #munchies #cravings #chips #pipers #pipersdeals #Newfoundland @LAYS pic.twitter.com/CETaTw4EDd
— Pipers Department Stores (@PipersStores) October 17, 2018
Lifford Wine & Spirits’ new division Lifford Cannabis Solutions organized the first wine, beer and cannabis tasting with beverage alcohol industry professionals, marking the introduction of premium cannabis products to the hospitality industry.
An amazing and historic #fiirstgreentasting Canada's first legal wine, beer and #cannabis tasting @liffordcannabis | Thank you @MagnusPim and @qnp and @LiffordON pic.twitter.com/IJAZFMA0hz
— CAPS Ontario (@CAPSOntario) October 18, 2018
Thanks to @liffordcannabis @LiffordON @CAPSOntario and @MagnusPim for the first of a series of Hospitality Sessions on Cannibis last night – this one Terpenes & Terroir. What a great way to celebrate the first day of legal sales in Canada! pic.twitter.com/CFbbCodSph
— Tim Appelt (@Wine_Discovery) October 18, 2018
Even young entrepreneurs like nine-year-old Edmonton Girl Guide Elina Childs profited from legalization. Childs set up shop outside one of the city’s six cannabis stores and sold out of three cases of cookies in about 45 minutes.
Pot police
Toronto police even got in on the action with a series of announcements about what is an appropriate 9-1-1 call, and it shouldn’t be cannabis related.
Asking police to call your friend because you are out of minutes is not a 911 call. Calling about your neighbour's pot plants isn't either. Cannabis is no longer illegal on October 17, 2018. Up to four cannabis plants will be allowed per household. Do not call police for this ^sm pic.twitter.com/1rUvR9yvcT
— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) October 16, 2018
Asking what to do with your frozen meat during a power outage is not a 911 call. Smelling weed coming from your neighbour's home isn't either. Cannabis is no longer illegal on October 17, 2018. Consumption is allowed for anyone 19yrs or older. Do not call police for this ^sm pic.twitter.com/6aYhbStarS
— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) October 16, 2018
Asking for directions because you're lost is not a 911 call. Reporting an adult smoking a joint isn't either. Cannabis is no longer illegal on October 17, 2018. Consumption is allowed anywhere cigarette smoking is allowed except in a motor vehicle. Do not call police for this ^sm pic.twitter.com/7SoescfLM5
— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) October 16, 2018
Moving beyond police 9-1-1 alerts, if you’re planning on getting your hands on some legal cannabis products, make sure you’re not violating any regulations. Police across the country have already given hefty fines.
Winnipeg’s police service issued a ticket for consuming cannabis in a motor vehicle on legalization day. Leaving the individual with a $672 fine.
So … this happened early this morning: A Consume Cannabis in a Motor Vehicle ticket was issued. Just like alcohol, consuming cannabis is legal – and like alcohol, consuming it in your vehicle is **not**. #KnowYourRole pic.twitter.com/RR9AUBv4RN
— Winnipeg Police (@wpgpolice) October 17, 2018
Additionally, cannabis shops in British Columbia and Newfoundland were raided on October 18. On Vancouver Island, police seized thousands of dollars worth of marijuana from two pot shops open without provincial licenses. Police and inspectors from the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corp. cleared a St. John’s dispensary after tagging and bagging the items in the shop.