The Alberta Gaming, Alcohol and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) will allow cannabis stores to remove their window coverings. This overturns a regulation that prohibited cannabis products from being visible from the outside.
In a letter sent Tuesday to store owners, the AGLC said the decision was prompted by a significant increase in thefts in recent months, particularly in Calgary. The AGLC says the use of violence and weapons in these robberies is a concern for staff, customers and the police who respond to these attacks.
However, the letter cautions store owners against using this change to replace window coverings with promotions that can be seen from outside their stores.
The change is welcomed by cannabis store owners, such as High Tide, which owns the Canna Cabana chain. "The regulation forced most cannabis stores to black out exterior windows, making them prime targets for criminals", says Omar Khan, High Tide's vice president of public and corporate affairs. "The news is a victory for the safety of our employees and our ability to continue to fight the illicit market", he adds.
Source : Radio-Canada ICI Alberta (La Presse canadienne) : https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1904617/marijuana-pot-thc-legalisation