Debra Borchardt
Several cannabis companies announced signing agreements with the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis Commission (AGLC) to supply recreational cannabis to Alberta’s private cannabis retailers and the AGLC’s online cannabis store, www.albertacannabis.org.
Alberta is Canada’s fourth most populated province and is mostly known as being the home to tourist destinations like Banff Park and Lake Louise. Its capital is Edmonton and its largest city is Calgary. The province is known as being a hub for the country’s crude oil industry.
“The AGLC is committed to providing the Alberta market with access to federally regulated cannabis in a safe and fiscally-responsible manner while helping to shrink the illicit market,” says Niaz Nejad, Chief Operating Officer, and Vice President, Gaming & Cannabis, AGLC. “We are confident that those we are working with will help us fulfill our responsibilities to Albertans.”
Aurora Cannabis Inc.
Edmonton-based Aurora Cannabis Inc. (ACBFF) said that it will initially allocate up to 25,000 kg of product for the first 6 months of sales to this market. “The AGLC and Alberta government have been steadfast in their commitment to developing the best possible framework for a well-functioning legal adult consumer use market that prevents cannabis from ending up in the hands of youth,” said Terry Booth, CEO. “The province’s common-sense approach and this agreement are the result of many months of discussions with the AGLC towards achieving these goals. Consequently, adult consumers in Alberta will have access to a broad selection of high-quality cannabis products from October 17, 2018, onward.”
He went on to say, “Aurora already is the pre-eminent provider of medical cannabis in Alberta, with a dominant market share, serving more Alberta patients than any other licensed producer. Aurora also employs more Albertans than all other licensed producers combined. We have a brand recognized for quality, which we intend to leverage to capture a significant share of the adult consumer market in Alberta and Canada, both organically and through our strategic retail partnerships. We look forward to working with the AGLC and becoming a key part of the province’s cannabis infrastructure to ensure Alberta’s successful entry into the burgeoning consumer cannabis market.”
Aphria Inc.
Aphria Inc. (APHQF) said that the AGLC placed an opening order of 870 kg to be supplied from across the full portfolio of Aphria’s adult-use brands and products, including dried flower, pre-rolls and cannabis oils. Once additional product categories, such as vapes and edibles, are authorized under the Cannabis Act, it is anticipated that they will also be made for sale throughout the province, further enhancing the company’s assortment of offerings in this market.
“We are thrilled to be working with such a strong partner that is equally committed to promoting responsible cannabis use,” said Jakob Ripshtein, Chief Commercial Officer at Aphria. “This important agreement enables Aphria’s adult-use brands to have a strong presence in Alberta’s dynamic retail landscape. Through our partnership with the AGLC, we look forward to providing access to our thoughtfully crafted portfolio of brands that were designed to meet the diverse needs of Alberta consumers.”
Organigram Holdings Inc.
Organigram Holdings Inc. (OGRMF) also announced that it signed a supply agreement with the AGLC adding to the other three provinces that company has made deals with. Organigram recently unveiled its preliminary branding strategy for the adult recreational market in Canada featuring the brands The Edison Cannabis Company, ANKR Organics and Trailer Park Buds.
“We are pleased to finalize this agreement with AGLC,” says Greg Engel, Organigram’s Chief Executive Officer. “We applaud the province’s efforts to secure a high-quality, dependable inventory for their recreational cannabis market and are proud to have been selected as an AGLC partner.”
Emblem Corp.
Emblem Corp. (EMMBF) also signed an agreement to supply the province with high-quality cannabis products. Products will be available under Emblem’s new adult-use focused brand, which is expected to be announced shortly.
“Emblem is excited to have been selected to bring our adult-use products to Alberta’s recreational cannabis market upon legalization on October 17, 2018. We are looking forward to working together with the AGLC to build the foundation for a safe and responsible marketplace for consumers,” said Maria Guest, Chief Marketing Officer with Emblem. “With our soon to be announced adult-use cannabis brand, Emblem is ready to meet the needs of Albertans seeking a trusted source of cannabis products, offering a curated range of dried flower and cannabis oils.”
WeedMD Inc.
WeedMD (WDDMF) said it will supply the Alberta market with cannabis products starting the first day of legal sales. The agreement represents a key milestone in WeedMD’s strategic plan to develop a national distribution platform for the company’s medical and adult-use products, building upon the recent announcement of WeedMD’s supply agreement with Shoppers Drug Mart.
“We’re proud that the AGLC has selected WeedMD as a cannabis supplier to join its network as it looks to establish a cannabis framework for its adult-use markets,” said Keith Merker, Chief Financial Officer of WeedMD. “This represents a strategic partnership as we look to expand our product reach across the country to support Canada’s legal adult-use market. Alberta’s high standards align with the highly-regarded quality of our cultivation standards, product portfolio, and commercial practices as we look to meet the expected demand of this new market.”
The Supreme Cannabis Company, Inc.
The Supreme Cannabis Company, Inc. (SPRWF) said that its wholly-owned subsidiary, 7ACRES, had entered into a supply agreement with the AGLC to supply recreational cannabis upon legalization. Supreme said that the AGLC has communicated that they plan to evaluate product demand of the recreational market in order to inform their supply needs for the remainder of the year.
“We are very excited to serve as a trusted partner to the AGLC and Albertans. Alberta offers a unique opportunity for quality-driven brands as it is one of the most sophisticated private retail markets in the country and its approach to retailing cannabis recognizes that ensuring quality and offering a selection of products are critical steps towards impacting the illicit market,” said John Fowler, CEO of Supreme Cannabis. “Supreme Cannabis anticipates broad provincial acceptance that 7ACRES’ lineup is a premium brand, and as such will be ranked as a top-tier product in their stores.”
