The CEO of Aphria says his emotions were running "high" all day on Wednesday, the historical day in Canada when pot became legal, even though he has never sampled his company's cannabis.
However, Vic Neufeld said there were a lot of challenges launching the largest licenced marijuana producer in Windsor-Essex. Neufeld said the low cannabis supply right now will likely continue for at least another three months.
"It still takes a long time to get harvest through processing through packaging to the distribution centres coast to coast etc.," said Neufeld.
The CEO of Aphria says his emotions were running "high" all day on Wednesday, the historical day in Canada when pot became legal. Oct 17, 2018. (Photo by Paul Pedro)
He said pot producers grew low amounts on purpose and added the unexpected high public demand and the fact that there were no physical retail stores open for legal pot day made the launch more challenging for him and consumers. Neufeld said buying weed online is not very convenient and he wants to open a licenced retail store after April 1 at his Leamington marijuana growing facility.
"In Ontario, licenced producers are going to be able to have one retail location and it needs to be on your cultivation site," he said.
Neufeld said his facility will be producing 255,000 kilograms of cannabis a year starting in May or June and that should keep up with his expectations.
"You can never run fast enough, this space moves at the speed of light. It truly is faster than the Autobahn," Neufeld said.
Neufeld said he could have used at least an extra six months to get ready for the October 17 launch but added that it’s new ground for everybody, including the federal government.
Aphria celebrated the legalization of pot on Wednesday with a BBQ party beside their facility at 245 Talbot St. W in Leamington.