The future Société québécoise du cannabis (SQC) will open 20 branches and not 15 to launch the legal sale of cannabis, but its management recognizes that it is advancing in unknown territory with regard to legalization.
The President and CEO of the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ), Alain Brunet, made the announcement Friday evening before the members of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal.
Although Quebec announced the opening of 15 branches by introducing its bill on the legalization of cannabis, Mr. Brunet explained that the Crown corporation had decided otherwise.
"Twenty, that's what's realistic. It's our plan. It is we who execute the plan, "he said in a press briefing after his speech.
Mr. Brunet, whose Crown Corporation was mandated to market legal cannabis, described all the actors in the file as pioneers since the usual tools, market studies, profitability analyzes, scientific studies, consumer profiles are rare or simply non-existent.
"That's true for producers, from one end of the chain to the distribution; we work a little in the dark, "he said, adding that" we should not be afraid of ambiguity in our file ".
The project still provides for a total of 100 stores after three years, but Mr. Brunet said that we will be in "agile mode" and he does not rule out increasing this number if necessary.
"The number is 100, that's what we evaluated. Or 150. This is not an issue. If it takes 300, it will take 300, "he dropped unreservedly.
One of the variables that remains unknown is the portion of sales that will be purchased by the website, which will be put online at the same time as the opening of the branches and which will certainly be a factor in determining the number of branches.
The boss of the SAQ believes that he will be able to establish a much better portrait after one year of operation.
Branches will be in approximately 2,000 square feet of storefront space where there will be no self-service, but products behind the counter.
Since the law prohibits the presence of minors in the store, all persons appearing to be under 18 years old will be carded at the entrance of the store by staff in a vestibule.
"There can not be young people under 18 in the shops," he said. So we have to ensure that everyone who is thought to be under the age of 18 is crushed before entering. "
Alain Brunet adds that several other provisions such as outdoor advertising, interior, windows or logo, for example, remain to be determined because the regulatory framework is not yet known and that Quebec has already warned that the framework will be very greenhouse.
The boss of the SAQ also wanted to be reassuring with the many shops that sell accessories for cannabis smokers and who currently operate in a gray market, the SQC has not yet determined how much it intends to offer accessories, as the law allows.
"We do not want to interfere too much in this. But we are not going to compete with these shops aggressively, "he said.
As for local sourcing, with Quebec lagging behind in terms of production capacity, Mr. Brunet argues that neither he nor local producers can offer an answer at this time.
"It's not clear and for the producers, it's the same. We speak to each other, but there is nothing clear; we do not know the market. "
Alain Brunet defines the SQC's mission as to integrate consumers into the legal market and to maintain them without encouraging an increase in cannabis consumption.
He is convinced that it is entirely possible, the SAQ being the example to follow.
"With alcohol, that's what we do. We forget that alcohol is a dangerous material for public health if there is excess, "he said.
Alain Brunet has already indicated his intention not to remain at the SAQ's management at the end of his term in December 2018.
He expects his successor to be found soon and intends to entrust him with the reins of the SAQ as soon as possible in order to devote himself entirely to setting up the SQC until his departure at the end of the year.