New wave of cannabis products means new (or at least renovated) retail digs in N.S.

Twitter icon

The Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) is getting ready for the second wave of cannabis legalization, planning renovations to its 12 cannabis retail stores that opened less than a year ago in preparation for selling topicals, edibles and beverages.

The final cost of renovations—which will include new display cabinets, additional counters and lighting, as well as installing refrigeration units to accommodate the new products—will depend on analysis of the responses from store operators, Beverley Ware, communications advisor for NSLC , told The GrowthOp. That said, Ware notes the current cost estimate is in the ballpark of $3 million to be compliant for selling edibles.

On Friday and Monday, respectively, the Crown corporation issued tenders for the required interior renovations, giving 11 of the stores a deadline to reply by Aug. 9; the final location must provide feedback by Aug. 13.

As reported by Global News, one of the tenders offers detailed upgrades that will be carried out at the 11 hybrid cannabis-liquor stores throughout the province. “The renovations will be completed in time for the second wave of legalization on Oct. 17, ensuring they are ready for when edibles are available for sale mid-December,” Ware told The GrowthOp.

This isn’t the first time NSLC, which manages the distribution and sale of beverage alcohol and cannabis, had gotten its ducks in a row ahead of the curve. Store locations were ready for the initial recreational cannabis legalization deadline of July 1, 2018.

At that time, it wasn’t possible to prepare for the second wave of legalization, as the edible regulations were not finalized until 2019, Ware notes. NSLC was prepared for adaptation when building the original stores, she says, and were aware that this work would be needed less than a year after launch.

e-mail icon Facebook icon Twitter icon LinkedIn icon Reddit icon
Rate this article: 
Article category: 
Regional Marijuana News: