Edible Cannabis Products: Business Plan - Question Period
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Business. A new wave of cannabis legalization is coming this year in October when cannabis edibles become legal. The edibles market represents a new range of opportunities and risks which the government must plan for. However, the budget tabled in this House does not include any anticipated government revenue from edible cannabis. I'll remind the House it's in October.
I'm concerned that the government is going to sit on their hands, as they did in the lead-up to the initial round of legalization, allowing the black market to continue to flourish and leaving the public with more questions than answers about edibles.
Will the minister table the government's business plan for edible cannabis products?
HON. MARK FUREY « » : Mr. Speaker, we continue with our discussions around edible cannabis. The points that my colleague brings out are valid points, valid questions. That is part of the work that we're doing now, and when we've made our final decisions and are able to share that, we'll certainly communicate that publicly.
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, with respect, this is a Business question. There are Justice implications, but this is about how the government runs its business.
Since 2016, the government has known that cannabis legalization was going to be a reality. The government decided that this was going to be their business, but as we have seen over the past year, they didn't do the work to prepare the province for the opportunities or the risks of legalization. Limited retail locations and limited supply have allowed the black market to flourish.
CBD oil is well known to be one of the most popular cannabis products, in part because it's non-impairing. It's readily available through black-market sources, and yet the NSLC has been out of stock more often than it has been in stock. Mona Scott of Truro reported in media that because she could never find it - she said she went to her outlet 10 times asking - she now orders it online from the United States.
What is the minister doing to ensure that Nova Scotians can start relying on the NSLC to stock the products they expect and are currently forced to buy illegally?
THE SPEAKER « » : I just want to remind the honourable member that it's the prerogative of the government to determine who answers the questions. Thank you for pointing that out.
The honourable Minister of Justice.
MARK FUREY « » : Mr. Speaker. I don't dismiss the points and questions that my colleague is asking. This is a discussion that is holistic across government and takes in multiple departments. I am the lead, and with respect, would respond to any of the questions that my colleague would present.
Specific to supply, supply is, as we know, a federal issue. Every province and territory is challenged by the producers to provide the level of product that they had committed to. We continue to work with all those stakeholders to ensure that, as this market moves forward, there will be the appropriate supply available.