Alberta Authorities to Permit Cannabis Use and Delivery at Festivals
Recently, the Deputy Minister for Red Tape Reduction in Alberta—a unique government office established only at the end of last year—announced to the media that the province will soon allow residents and visitors to use cannabis at various public festivals, but only in specially designated areas. In addition, authorities plan to permit certified cannabis delivery services to bring orders directly to these zones, effectively providing festivals with a direct supply line of legal cannabis.
Of course, such deliveries will only be allowed at festivals and events that set up designated smoking areas. Only certified couriers who have completed a special government-licensed cannabis industry training program will be allowed to serve these zones. Alcohol use will be strictly limited in these areas, as policymakers still believe that mixing cannabis and alcohol is a dangerous combination. Local governments, such as county or city councils, will also have the authority to set their own restrictions on these smoking zones. Without their approval, event organizers will not be able to set up cannabis consumption areas.
Legalization of Private Online Cannabis Stores
At the same time as this announcement, Alberta authorities finally legalized private online stores selling cannabis products. Although private cannabis shops have operated in the province for some time, until recently they were not allowed to run online stores or delivery services due to a government monopoly managed by the regional gaming, liquor, and cannabis regulatory bureau. Starting this week, private stores that have fully supported the government’s initiative have begun launching their online branches and serving customers.
Restrictions in Most Alberta Cities
It’s important to note that the vast majority of cities in Alberta, except for the capital Edmonton, still strictly limit cannabis use in public places. These bans mean that, despite the reform, event organizers may only be able to open cannabis smoking zones in Edmonton unless other municipalities change their stance.
“Of course, this ban only applies to public cannabis use. Residents and visitors are completely free to order any cannabis products for home delivery and use them in private settings,” said a representative of the regional regulatory bureau regarding the reform.
Festival Experience in Calgary and the U.S.
In 2019, Calgary hosted a festival—the annual Calgary International Folk and Country Music Festival—that featured a designated cannabis consumption area. Since then, local authorities have imposed restrictions that will likely prevent cannabis from returning to this legendary event. Meanwhile, cannabis smoking zones made their debut in the U.S. at the Outside Lands festival in San Francisco, where a dedicated area was set up for cannabis enthusiasts, featuring dozens of sponsors from the regional cannabis industry. At this festival, attendees could purchase a wide range of cannabis products, from flower and extracts to various foods and beverages infused with cannabinoids. The experience was a huge success: the smoking zone generated over a million dollars in profit in just a couple of days. Unfortunately, plans to expand the cannabis area were put on hold due to the festival’s multi-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, organizers have not abandoned the idea and hope to develop it further once the threat has passed.