Alberta allows cannabis sales at trade shows and festivals

The Canadian province of Alberta has announced plans to implement a series of changes to its retail cannabis regulations, including allowing cannabis retailers to operate temporary outlets at trade shows and festivals.

The new changes, due to come into force on January 31, 2024, have been welcomed by the entire industry, the Canadian cannabis producer Organigram declaring it a «significant step forward in reducing bureaucracy and increasing operational efficiency».

What's more, retailers can now store cannabis products in locked display cabinets, eliminating the need to transfer them to a secure storage facility on a daily basis.

Revisions aim to reduce unnecessary regulation, to support the legal cannabis industry and promote job preservation.

Other recent changes to Alberta rules include cannabis material, These include greater flexibility in store names, simplified age verification for online cannabis websites, reduced fees for licensed producers and retailers, the removal of window coverage requirements and the authorization of sample distribution at cannabis events.

L’Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) will also provide growers with regional sales reports, promoting transparency in the cannabis market.

This is the latest evolution of the State, which removed the requirement for cannabis retailers to cover their windows in 2022, while allowing retailers to distribute samples at events and significantly reducing SKU registration fees for cannabis producers.