Another Canadian observer here. The roll out was botched in parts of the country because control over licensing was delegated to provinces and some did a better job than others. British Columbia’s legalization effort has been a resounding success, in so far as there are a plentiful supply of well regulated, pleasant shops pretty much everywhere. And you can buy online easily from the government-owned store — literally it’s a Shopify site.

I do not consume cannabis, but here in BC, it has never been difficult to obtain. The difference with legalization is that it’s now just a non-issue. Not sketchy. Not dangerous. It’s just part of the fabric of daily life.

Governments like Germany should focus on maximizing access through private distribution much as is the case for alcohol and tobacco. Trying to control the retail end too much will result in a failure.