SYDNEY RIVER, N.S. — Smoke or get off the pot?
Beverley Ware, spokesperson for the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation, said there actually is a return policy for cannabis.
“However, cannabis can only be returned to stores that sell cannabis,” she explained. “There will be two options, to return it to the store or return it by mail.”
Harry Power, 33, of Sydney, said the issue of the quality of the NSLC-sold product is something people who enjoy a little recreational pot have been wondering about.
“You tell by the look of it and the smell if it’s good quality or not,” he said.
Power, a construction worker, said good pot has a fresh and pleasant flowery smell and dank stuff could have a musty odor, like hay.
He said people debating this issue were wondering how something they purchased at the NSLC could ever be returned.
“I’m only an occasional user, usually limited to gatherings with friends or vacations,” he said. “I’m happy it’s legal and being controlled and curious to see the quality.
“At least we can be confident of what’s in it. I’m guessing it will be good.”
Ware said basically the return policy for cannabis is the same as with wine or any other alcoholic beverage.
“If the customer says the product is not the quality that they expected they can bring it back. The product — whether it’s wine or cannabis — can have been opened but when the customer returns it we need the bottle or the container/envelope to be closed,” she said.
Ware said cannabis is provided to the customer in a plastic container with a twist top or in some cases a vacuum-sealed envelope so they can bring it back to the store in that plastic container with the lid on it or place the opened vacuum-sealed envelope in a bag so it doesn’t spill or smell.
“In the case of cannabis, we ask that it be in a sealed bag due to odour.”
If it is not convenient to go to one of the cannabis stores the customer can call their customer care centre and will be emailed a label to affix to an envelope to return the product, she added.
“The product is destroyed once it is returned to us.”
There are three different price levels — value, core and premium products, determined by the producer.
“It’s the licensed producers themselves and how they want to position their product,” she said.
“They tell us whether they want their product marketed as a premium or something they see as falling into the value category. Then we put the product into those categories.”
The THC levels — whether high or low —is not reflected in the price, she said.
The packages are provided to NSLC with CBD and THC levels marked by producers.
“They all have websites where you can get further ingredients.”
There are 14 licensed producers in New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta. Ware said there are growers in the Nova Scotia who have production licences from Health Canada but not the retail license.
“As soon as they do have those licences we will be offering Nova Scotia product.”
The only place cannabis will be currently sold in Cape Breton is the Sydney River NSLC location. In preparation for Wednesday, seven new employees have been hired as well as an assistant manager.
The Sydney River store was chosen for the population hub and having the additional space to renovate.
Ware said once the demand is known across Nova Scotia any adjustments that need to be made will be made.
Online sales and home delivery by Canada Post is also offered to customers.
The NSLC opened their doors in the province in the 1930s.
Whether Wednesday will be the biggest day in history for the corporation is hard to predict, Ware said.
“Christmas and Easter are big times, Thanksgiving as well. It just depends if people think there might be lineups they might stay home and wait a day or two.”
Want to buy some pot?
- With the legalization of cannabis there will be value, core and premium-priced product available for sale at the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation outlet in Sydney River as of Wednesday.
- The Sydney River store is the only one in Cape Breton to sell cannabis at this time, one of 12 stores provincewide.
- Prices include: one gram: Value- $6.33-$8.49, Core- $9-$10.98, Premium-$10.99 and above.
- All prices are determined by brand and package size. Price per gram decreases as product package size increases.
- NSLC expected to offer approximately 300 products representing 78 strains. Due to challenges experienced by cannabis-licensed producers, the NSLC will have 97 products on inventory Wednesday representing 52 strains including indica-dominant and sativa-dominant products as well as indica-leaning hybrids and sativa-leaning hybrids.
- There are 14 licensed producers including some in New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta.
- There are no seeds in inventory but when in stock will be sold per seed. The price isn’t known yet.
Related:
• Regional police not using federally approved roadside drug testing equipment
• Opinion: Will you partake in pot smoking?
• Cannabis rules: what to expect in Nova Scotia
