Building on its commitment to promote informed consumption, NLC has launched a new awareness campaign to educate the public about the risks of illegal cannabis.

While illegal and legal cannabis products can often look the same, there are hidden dangers of illegal cannabis that can pose serious risks to consumers. Illegal cannabis is unregulated and not tested for safety, meaning there’s no way to know what it contains, including harmful levels of mould, pesticides and bacteria. NLC only purchases cannabis from producers licensed by Health Canada, which ensures they comply with strict regulations related to product quality, production practices, and certificates of analysis.

NLC’s Know the Risks of Illegal Cannabis campaign highlights some of the dangers of purchasing illegal cannabis and stems from the corporation’s most recent public opinion survey, which revealed that many consumers continue to purchase from illegal sources, mistakenly thinking they are legal. One in ten (or 10%) of survey respondents believed that purchasing cannabis from a dealer was considered legal while another 9% of respondents stated they were unsure. Even more respondents were unable to confidently identify illegal online cannabis sellers. One third of respondents (or 32%) believed that online mail order marijuana sites, also known as MOM sites, were legal, while over four in ten (or 43%) were unsure. The only legal place to buy cannabis in Newfoundland and Labrador is through one of the province’s 59 licensed cannabis retailers or through ShopCannabisNL.com.

“As the organization entrusted with ensuring safe and responsible access to cannabis in our province, we want consumers to understand the real risks that come with illegal products,” said Bruce Keating, NLC President and CEO. “This campaign reinforces a simple message: if you don’t know where it comes from, you can’t know what’s in it."

NLC is a Crown Corporation of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador with responsibility through the Liquor Corporation Act, the Liquor Control Act, and the Cannabis Control Act for the importation, sale, distribution, and management of beverage alcohol and cannabis.

In addition to alcohol, NLC regulates and distributes to 59 licensed cannabis retailers and operates a secure online platform for legal cannabis purchases at ShopCannabisNL.com .

All profits from NLC are returned to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to be reinvested in the province by funding key public services. Through every product, partnership, and service, NLC is committed to earning public trust and delivering lasting value to Newfoundland and Labrador.