Matt Maurer speaks to Global News about why LP's can't offer new varieties

Some of the lack of choice is rooted in a compromise made to get the recreational market up and running quickly.

Legislators wanted to eliminate the black market but saw that the vast numbers of plants that legal producers needed, and needed immediately, had to come from somewhere. The solution was to allow companies applying to be licensed producers to bring in genetics from illegal sources, but only once.

The problem is that if a licensed producer wants to stock up on new varieties after that point — to sell to home growers or for any other reason — they can’t legally do it, explains cannabis lawyer Matt Maurer.

The system creates perverse incentives.

“Some applicants have been approached by licensees and they have said, ‘We can get you access to these amazing grey-market genetics. We want you to bring it into the legal system when you get licensed. Here is how you will be compensated. You’ll grow it for us, or we’ll give you half the revenue.’ There are a variety of ways to do it.”

For the time being, Canadian home growers who turn away from legal sellers are immediately rewarded with far better selection.

“If we want to compete with the black market, the products have to match the black market, or be superior,” Maurer argues.

This article originally appeared on Global News. Visit Global News to read the complete article.