Nova Scotia looks at adding new cannabis stores after low online sales

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia is considering expanding the number of retail cannabis stores, as online sales have been slower than expected.

Finance Minister Karen Casey said Thursday that online pot sales were expected to account for about 10 per cent or more of total sales, but are only in the range of six per cent.

Casey said that’s why the province has asked the Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. to look at adding to its 12 retail locations currently selling cannabis. She said an expansion would also address geographical gaps in the province.

“We believed that online would address some of those areas of the province where there was a gap,” said Casey. “We’ve recognized that to date it has not materialized, so we have to look at how can we get out to other areas if online is not going to bring the consumer in.”

The minister said there is currently a lack of retail service on parts of the South Shore and through the Annapolis Valley, although she couldn’t say at this point how many additional stores are being considered and exactly where they would be located.

Casey noted that Nova Scotia has “managed well” a supply shortage that has hit most of the country, although it hasn’t been able to offer the wide range of product line originally promised.

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