Vape Pens Are Now Available in Alberta: Will Other Provinces Follow?

In December 2019, the Alberta provincial government announced that it would be holding back on offering cannabis vape pens and cannabis cartridges until it could conduct a review of potential health concerns. Fortunately, that review has finished, and cannabis vape pens, cartridges, pods, and batteries are now rolling out in stores across the province.

What Made the Alberta Government Hold Off Selling Cannabis Vape Products?

Cannabis vape products were slated to be sold across Canada in late 2019 as part of the country’s rollout of Cannabis 2.0 products. That plan hit a snag in Alberta, however, when its government, led by Premier Jason Kenney, decided to temporarily delay the release of these products throughout the province. 

This announcement was a reaction to the outbreak of lung illnesses in the US that stemmed from the purchase of black market vape cartridges and devices; after all, if users couldn’t procure safe, tested cannabis vape products from legal channels they would be forced to turn to the black market for their needs—an outcome that would only exacerbate the situation. [*Greentank recommends only purchasing cannabis products from legal, licensed retail outlets] 

It wasn’t until November, when the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially attributed the cause of most vape-related lung illnesses to black-market cartridges containing the thickening agent vitamin E acetate, that public opinion began to come around. And even then, it still took another three months for Alberta’s lawmakers to permit cannabis retailers within the province to carry vape products, much to the dismay of industry experts and advocates.    

Will Other Provinces Follow in Alberta’s Footsteps?

It seems likely that other provinces will follow suit now that Alberta, Canada’s top cannabis market, has opened its doors to cannabis vape sales. British Columbia allowed its vendors to sell cannabis vapes on Christmas Day and has not experienced any issues with lung illnesses. Ontario followed suit soon after, with many of its stores reporting that cannabis vape products are flying off their shelves. 

Meanwhile, Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) is reportedly still waiting for more data until it allows its retailers to carry cannabis vape pens. Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, on the other hand, have inexplicably taken a hard stance against cannabis vape products despite warnings from industry experts that this decision will only perpetuate the number of black market cannabis vape products sold within these provinces. It will be interesting to see how long these two provinces maintain these bans while their potential cannabis vape tax revenues are lost to provinces that allow the sales of these products.   

What’s So Great About Vape Pens?

Vape pens allow users to inhale extracted cannabis oil vapor at temperatures that do not cause the oil to combust. This differs from the traditional delivery systems of joints, pipes and bongs, which all produce smoke, a byproduct of combustion. Vape pens offer the full range of effects that smoking cannabis affords, including the robust flavors, without any of the mess or fuss. 

One of the great characteristics of vape pens is that the vapor they produce smells milder than the smoke produced by other traditional combustion-based delivery systems. Vape pens are also fantastic for users who wish to control their cannabis consumption or for those who prefer to inhale very small quantities of vapor. Vape pens are super discreet and are either breath-actuated or push-button activated, which means you won’t have to keep buying the disposable lighters that traditional cannabis delivery systems require.      

Will Greentank Products Be Available for Purchase in Alberta?   

Greentank sells its premium vape hardware to dozens of prominent Canadian licensed producers, whose products will be available for purchase at Alberta cannabis retailers in the coming weeks. Our hardware is designed to account for the various boiling points of cannabis, delivering smooth, full flavor with every draw. Contact us today for bulk vape pen quotes and information.