Province admits 'gaps' in plan to sell cannabis through 9 NSLC outlets

The Nova Scotia government is calling an initialnine-store network for the province's cannabissales "a reasonable approach" as the country moves toward a legalized marijuanamarket this summer.

But Justice Minister Mark Fureyadmitted Tuesday there are gaps in that networkmost notably in the Annapolis Valley, along the South Shore and in the Strait region, none ofwhich will have retail outlets selling cannabis.

"I don't believe that we would ever be able to provide a retail model in every community," he tolda news conference."So communities will look to other options and we believe that the online home delivery will be a key piece of that."

While one of the stated goals of legalized marijuanais to tryto kill illicit trade of the drug,Fureyacknowledged the province would initially likely fall short of that. "The black market will continue to exist," he said.

Halifax home to pot-only outlet

Nova Scotia had announcedin December thatcannabis would be soldalongside beer, wine and spirits at some Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. locations. A list of the first stores that willstock marijuana was released Tuesday:

• Amherst 126 South Albion St.
• Dartmouth 650 PortlandSt.
• Halifax 3601 Joseph Howe Dr.
• Lower Sackville 752Sackville Dr.
• New Glasgow 610 East River Rd.
• Sydney River 95 Keltic Dr.
• Truro 6 Court St.
• Yarmouth 104a Starrs Rd.

The NSLCwill also be reopening theClyde Street liquor store in downtown Halifax as a cannabis-only operation.

The government plans to do a reassessment after one year.

Six of the nine stores were chosen because they currently house bottle-your-own-wine facilities, which will be replaced by boxed-in counters where customers will be able to buy cannabis seeds and flowers, along with dried leaves.

Although the sale of marijuanaplants willbe permitted whenfederal government legalizes the drug in July, it's unclear where in Nova Scotia those seedlings will be sold.

"We haven't decided whether we'll sell plants or not yet," said NSLCpresident Brett Mitchell. "Our intention, at this point, is not to sell them."

In Nova Scotia, each household will be allowedtogrow up to four plants for personaluse.

'Modern' but 'modest' look

Mitchell described the soon-to-open cannabis locationsas "enclosed boxes inside these stores."

"The product has to be out of view, so it'll be behind some version of some kind of a wall or semi-opaque entrance," he said."And inside it, it's going tofeel modern. It'll be bright.It'll be well-serviced.It'll be full service. But it'll be modest as well."

The NSLC's 60 agency stores, which are mostly in smaller, rural communities, will not be allowed to sell marijuana.

PC MLA Karla MacFarlanesaid the lack of stores selling pot in some areas of the province would allow those who currently sell illegally to continue their illicit businesses.

"What we're going to see is an opportunity for the black market to continue and thrive quite well to be honest," she said.

People will also be able to buy online and havecannabis delivered to their homes, but details of that operation are not yet available.

The NSLCis currently looking for contractors to bid on the renovation work that will be needed to keep cannabis and liquor sales within one store separate.

Initial setupcosts are expected to outstrip revenue in the first yearof operation, according to both Mitchell and Furey.

"Some are of the view that there's a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. We don't see that. This is imposing significant costs on provincial governments to transition to this legal market," said Furey.

And although Nova Scotians will be able to get a legal high starting in July, flying for free will not be an option.Unlike liquor, beer and wine sales, you will not be able to collect Air Miles onpot purchases.