After speculation that cannabis live events and festivals could soon be a reality in Alberta, the province is making it official.
New provincial laws that took effect in Alberta on March 8, 2022, will allow for the delivery and consumption of edibles, beverages, and other non-smokable cannabis products at concerts and music festivals. Under the model, festivals and live events will reportedly offer attendees a designated consumption area where products will be delivered and consumed with food or beverages, as long as the service isn’t being sold or combined with alcohol.
The program is subject to municipal approval. For instance, Calgary has a ban on public smoking of cannabis, while Edmonton has no such restriction.
The change was made possible when the province moved to allow private cannabis retailers to sell online and make deliveries. Since public consumption is permitted in Alberta, a delivery service can deliver cannabis to a consumer anywhere it is legal to do so.
To offer online cannabis sales in Alberta, licensed cannabis retailers must operate a physical store and receive an endorsement to their licence from AGLC. Cannabis retailers will be responsible for ensuring that their online platforms meet all AGLC, municipal, provincial and federal legislation and regulatory requirements. This includes reasonable age verification methods to prevent minors from accessing online cannabis.