Without being able to do so, how will expos and conferences continue where the public has full access to learn more? Without being able to do so, how can the legal regulated market with a safe secure market compete with the consumer-friendly branding of the black market (edibles in particular)? Without being able to do so, the risk remains that many of the public will continue to use the black market or will move to it after trying and enjoying cannabis legally because of the perceived breadth and depth of choice that marketing options bring to the table (inviting packaging, etc). That is undesired because trained staff in the legal industry are there to assist patients and customers choose the right product for them and not act as a gateway to harder addictive illegal drugs where the revenue from sales may also fund the other darker nefarious business lines of the criminal world. Fortunately cooler heads prevailed and this amendment was rejected by the House of Commons.
Let’s also look at what the legal market is competing with. This snapshot off of Weedmaps shows the availability of illegal cannabis products in the proximity of the Toronto Convention Centre. Many will deliver the product to the buyer in minutes.
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