Once a weed smoker now a pot shop runner Cindi Phelps feels, as an adult, she has lectured a lot to the kids about touching the stuff. Only after reaching the golden age of 50 she realized that Marijuana could help in easing her pain from a serious health issue. Now as she is running the Tamarack Cannabis Boutique in Kimberley, B.C Phelps says, “she can relate to the customers who are worried about trying pot for the first time ever or the first time in ages.”
She says, “About 15-20 percent of my customers fall into this category.” “Most of them now had kids or are retired and would like to try it again as now it is legal and most importantly they don’t have any fear of being arrested” She added.
On October 17, 2018, Canada legalized weed and it bought mix reactions from the non-marijuana users. According to a survey by Statistics Canada from November to December, nearly 14 percent of cannabis users have begun which is quite a hike as compared to the previous quarter percentages from 4.7 to 7.8 percent. The research states that a higher percentage of users is among people who are above 35 years of age.
Legalization has brought a new section of people who prefer to use legal Cannabis and are willing to pay even more for it, said Jennifer Lee, leading Managing Partner of consulting firm Deloitte.
She said her research commonly states that people over 55 are most excited about this market because they have somewhere down the line experimented Marijuana years ago and also can afford to pay more for the legal weed.
People who are new to the world of Cannabis often demands Cannabidiol commonly known as CBD, a non-psychoactive extract that is used to treat pain and nervous disorders, said Mike Babins, Owner of Evergreen Cannabis in Vancouver. At times people stick to CBD, but those who are willing to try cannabis containing THC, staff always guide them to lower the dose products and advise them to start at a slower pace, he said.
Customers do mention that they have been waiting for legalization for long as they are tired of drinking too much alcohol on the night, there is a long list of people who are first timers or the first time in a long time who ends up becoming repeated customers, as said by Babins and fellow store owners.
According to the Statistics Canada data the users are picking up the habit again. Founder of City Cannabis Co., Krystian Wetulani, said his two licensed locations in Vancouver have witnessed a huge uprise in customers aged 45 to 65 since after the Cannabis is legalized.
Toronto’s first legal cannabis store The Hunny Pot has also seen a “huge arrival” of first-time consumers, including locals and tourists, since its opening just two weeks ago, said communications officer Cameron Brown.
The old users mention that people who haven’t use cannabis for decades are surprised by the wide variety
He added, “A lot of education is required, we are making sure that we are guiding them well about the different levels of THC and their usage and how it affects different people differently.”
