Summary
- The state-owned Québec Cannabis Society (SQDC) was launched in 2018 to shift consumers from the illicit market to the legal market by selling quality, lower-risk cannabis products.
- SQDC achieved significant progress, capturing 62.8% of the total market and increasing sales volume by 15% from 2022 to 2023.
- SQDC’s profits fund education, prevention efforts, and research related to cannabis through the Cannabis Prevention and Research Fund.
- Harm reduction strategies include employee training, offering a wide range of products with lower THC concentrations, and providing information on safer consumption methods.
- SQDC is focusing on enhancing the customer experience, staying competitive in an evolving market, and working towards providing hard data on the initiative’s performance and the relationship between legalization models and cannabis-related harms.
The Québec Cannabis Society (SQDC) was established in 2018 to transition consumers from the illegal to the legal cannabis market. Since its inception, the SQDC has experienced significant progress, capturing a large percentage of the total market. The sales volume and revenue have seen consistent growth over the years, with profits contributing to the Cannabis Prevention and Research Fund for education, prevention, and research efforts.
One of the key aspects of the SQDC’s strategy is harm reduction, with a focus on product education, responsible consumption, and offering products with lower THC concentrations. Employee training programs are in place to provide customers with guidance on safe consumption practices. Additionally, resources such as pamphlets and online information are available to educate consumers on potential risks and benefits of cannabis use.
As the cannabis market evolves, the SQDC continues to adapt by offering new products within the legal framework, such as edibles and vaping alternatives. The organization also aims to enhance the customer experience and remain competitive with the illegal market. Moving forward, there is a need for more research on the effectiveness of legalization models and the impact of cannabis-related harms, emphasizing the importance of healthcare providers being knowledgeable and open to discussing cannabis use with patients to prevent adverse health effects.
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Public Health & Prevention, Pharmacists