Prior to legalization cannabis sales from illicit on-line companies was quite prevalent. Post-legalization the sale of non-regulated cannabis continues to be one of the most prevalent forms for illicit cannabis reaching consumers. Many consumers are led to believe that this is legal as some on-line sales companies will ask or provide a medical prescription for cannabis, as a guise to seem legal despite selling non-regulated product and not having a licence for sale of cannabis for medical purposes.
Similar to all of the other points raised when describing concerns regarding non-regulated cannabis sales on and off First Nations communities, on-line illicit cannabis further perpetuates these concerns.
Summary of Illicit sales (online):
- Currently representing a significant portion of illicit sales.
- Confusing as customers see this as legal product
- Concerns around safety of non-regulated product being sold (see RPC study)
- Concerns with non-regulated packaging and risk of youth consumption
- Concerns of the presence of criminal elements leading to negative impact on the communities
- Gateway to illegal substances
- Loss of revenue for First Nations
- Loss of revenue for government partners
- Loss of revenue for licensed holders
- Lack of band policies on dispensing of product in community
- Lost tax revenue for governments
- Lost revenue for LPs
- Pressure on pricing for LPs causing financial instability
