(This story has been updated with information from the Société québécoise du cannabis.)
The second-biggest adult-use cannabis market in Canada, the province of Quebec, is now requiring proof of vaccination for the COVID-19 virus for entry into any of its regulated marijuana stores.
Quebec is the first jurisdiction in Canada to implement a vaccine mandate for entry into cannabis stores.
The 81 government-owned Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) stores are the only legal physical cannabis outlets in the province.
However, an SQDC spokesperson told MJBizDaily that employees are not required to be vaccinated.
Roughly 52.5 million Canadian dollars ($41.4 million) of recreational marijuana was sold in Quebec in October 2021, according to the most recent data from Statistics Canada.
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Proof of vaccination is also needed to enter Quebec’s liquor stores.
Health Minister Christian Dubé announced on Jan. 6 that the vaccine requirement would take effect Jan. 18.
