A year after the legalization of recreational cannabis, Nunavut is still struggling to make a dent in its black market.

Territorial finance minister George Hickes told the legislative assembly this week that online sales are not doing the trick and a retail option is needed to compete with illegal sales. Cannabis users can only legally obtain the drug through Tweed and Vertical Cannabis.

“We don’t have tracking numbers for illicit sales,” Hickes told the CBC. “[But] until such time as we get retail sales outlets so people can walk in and purchase as they want, I don’t anticipate we’re going to make a dramatic dent into the illegal sales.”

The territorial government reached out to the private sector last November, calling for “expressions of interest” from companies / Photo: iStock / Getty Images Plus

The government reached out to the private sector last November, calling for “expressions of interest” from companies willing to work with the Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission. The tender closes at the end of October.

The territory’s cannabis act requires that all communities have a say in decisions involving access to the drug, and Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu MLA Pat Angnakak is calling on the government to make its plans for the industry known.

“Can the minister indicate if the government’s goal is to allow retail sales of cannabis to take place in all 25 communities and, if so, can he also indicate what the timeline is for reviewing submissions and issuing approvals,” Angnakak asked.

Hickes wasn’t willing to go far, but said plans are underway to address Nunavut’s retail shortcomings. “[We] want to provide that option,” he said.

“We do need to make an impact on illegal sales. We need to make sure people are buying safe products that are not contaminated.”