The Alberta Liquor Store Association said it’s been investigating the potential for recreational cannabis sales through its members since the Liberals were elected.
Association president Ivonne Martinez said the group is preparing for the potential that cannabis is regulated provincially through liquor boards, the way it is in Washington.
ALSA members are being surveyed about legalization through a questionnaire and interviews with store owners, with the results expected in April. Martinez said the information will be used to develop policy for the group as it meets with the government.
Early feedback is split, with some members saying their current infrastructure is enough to handle the new product and others worried about new issues from selling cannabis.
“When the time comes, we hope to sit at the table with the government as they develop the Alberta model,” Martinez said. “If this is a good fit and if it is how we might be able to assist in the process in selling this product in a responsible way.”
Unlike Ontario, where premier Kathleen Wynne has publicly advocated for liquor store controlled sales, Alberta‘s privately run alcohol outlets may create a different view from the provincial government.