
Seniors and Cannabis: Is Pot The New Martini for North America’s 50+ Crowd?
Seniors aged 65 or older are the country’s fastest growing age group of cannabis users, according to data collected by Statistics Canada.
Seniors aged 65 or older are the country’s fastest growing age group of cannabis users, according to data collected by Statistics Canada.
“And from what I can tell, we have doing quite well all along because we have such a great team, of course, but a super supportive community that’s been following us.”
“I see our number-one status as a win for independents overall,” she says. “We did this with our own vision, our own drive and our own investment.”
“We have a temporary responsibility, which is a labor of love. It’s definitely a charity that we’re doing. Deliveries don’t really make us money — it just helps us serve the community better,” she says, explaining there are the added costs of bringing on drivers and using a delivery app service.
McLean would like the province to provide clarity about how long stores will be allowed to offer delivery and curbside pickup as part of the phased reopening of the economy.
Jennawae McLean is a long-time cannabis activist who’s strived for gender and racial equity since entering the licensed retail space. Having advocated for legalization, she now serves on the board of NORML Canada, an organization that focuses on cannabis policy reform and public outreach.
This store operated in the legacy market for many years and made the tough transition to the regulated side successfully. C+T targets the experienced enthusiast consumer that has formerly or is currently purchasing from unregulated sources.
“We feel vindicated. We have climbed a huge mountain and now here we are at the top, especially thrilled to see some of our other friends from pre-legalization meet us there too. It has been a dream come true.“
ADCANN March 25, 2021 This week’s Trailblazer is Jennawae McLean, Co-Founder, and CEO of Calyx + Trichomes, a provincially licensed cannabis store in Kingston, Ontario, and 2020
“In order for our justice system to be truly effective, we need to have viable options for people to do after while they’re in rehabilitation, after they’ve done their sentence, whatever it may be,” she said.
“From our perspective, we’re paying a debt owed to the people who fought for legalization,” says CEO and co-founder Jennawae McLean.
“I’m sure next January will be better in gross sales and profitability,” she said in an interview. “I really think that the lockdown took a big chunk and having to pivot [to delivery] was really what depressed sales.”