In December 2021, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC), Alberta’s cannabis regulator, announced a shift to private online cannabis sales from government online sales. The AGLC gave retailers 90 days to launch their online storefronts and put together a plan to deliver cannabis to consumers – a plan which included age gating.
Age Gating
Age gating aims to restrict online cannabis sales to minors. Alberta has put in measures to ensure the process goes beyond self-attesting your date of birth online, a process known as “soft age gating,” which many other Canadian provinces permit. The province requires retailers to sell or advertise cannabis products and prices to confirm customers’ age and identity. The process is not without its financial and logistical challenges. To be compliant, many retailers are going digital and using online apps specifically designed for this process. However, there are more traditional ways to verify consumers’ information, such as in-store verification and point-of-delivery ID confirmation by a store employee.
A Thorough Process to Protect Minors
If a cannabis retail licensee would like to open an online shop, they need to request AGLC endorses their existing license to permit online sales. AGLC inspectors will then work with licensed retailers to ensure they are in compliance with all legislation, including the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act, federal Cannabis Act, the Personal Information Protection Act, and Alberta’s Bill 80: the Red Tape Reduction Implementation Act, 2021. Despite the March 8 deadline to comply, AGLC is not yet enforcing the age-gating regulation; instead, their focus is on approving online age-gating systems to meet one of the main objectives of recreational cannabis legalization: to keep underage users from accessing it. Health Canada may, however, choose to intervene at any time. As of March 23, out of 756 cannabis shops, AGLC had issued 104 online retailer endorsements.
A Commitment to Customer Service
13th Floor Cannabis is committed to providing exceptional customer service and we are excited to now offer online purchases! The process is simple, visit our website, add your selection(s) to your cart, and select a pickup time. You will also need to enter your name as it appears on your ID as well as your birth date. Then head to the location you choose and one of our helpful staff will verify your age and identity to ensure you are of legal age and answer any questions you may have about the products you selected. You can then pay for your purchase in-store and head home to enjoy!
Wondering where to buy legal cannabis in Calgary, or do you have questions about hard age gating? Come up to one of our three Calgary-area locations and one of our helpful staff members would be happy to help!