Canada became the second country in the world to legalize marijuana after a bill that was passed by parliament in June went into effect on October 17. The bill permits adults to possess up to 30 grams of marijuana and grow up to four plants of any size per household. Canada’s federal legalization of recreational marijuana will have a major effect on the market — Grand View Research estimates that the country’s legalization could make the global legal market worth $146.4 billion by 2025.
As the cannabis industry continues to gain momentum, one of the immediate trends to define the changing landscape is the presence of luxury lifestyle brands.
We’ve rounded up four luxury lifestyle Canadian cannabis brands to watch. These companies are setting the tone and leading the charge for cannabis’ luxury sector.
1. Tokyo Smoke
Tokyo Smoke was started by Toronto native Alan Gertner and his father Lorne Gertner. The award-winning brand currently has two coffee shop locations, with plans to expand to more regions. They also plan to open five dispensary concept stores, which, among other things, will be the primary seller of the company’s own line of recreational cannabis flower. Tokyo Smoke currently offers a wide range of products and apparel, ranging in price from $10 to $13,000, and their guide to celebrating October 17 was one of the most widely-read Canadian blog posts on the subject.
2. Nutritional High International Inc.
Nutritional High International Inc. is based in Toronto, Canada although many of their labs are dotted around the U.S. where the laws are more conducive to production. The company is dedicated to creating edibles and oils that are consistent, delicious, and readily available. From a range of chocolate bars and intricately designed truffles to mints, vape pens, and “space joints,” the company uses their own trademarked scientific process to ensure that all of their products have superior THC levels, higher bioactivity, and a distinctively delicious taste. They’ve also developed a program called FLI Safe, designed to educate consumers on responsible consumption and cannabis awareness, a first in the industry.
3. Qwest
Based in Creston, British Columbia, Qwest is a luxury brand that uses the finest seeds and techniques to develop a strain of marijuana that is a step above anything else available on the market. Grown in the Rocky Mountains, in an environment the company describes as a Garden of Eden for cannabis, their “BC bud” is supposed to be the best in the world. Nurtured entirely by hand, from the rarest of strains, they release each new strain to consumers only after it has passed a set of rigorous tests. Styling themselves as a brand for those “on a quest to explore and experience what’s beyond the ordinary in life,” Qwest is a leading luxury cannabis brand to watch.
4. Maitri
Based in Québec, this Montreal brand has an entire line of thoughtfully designed accessories. From pipes to storage jars, the pieces are all handmade and designed by local craftsmen. In natural, earthy colors and gorgeous strains of wood, Maitri’s products recently earned the company a nomination for “Brand of the Year” at the Canadian Cannabis Awards. Maitri is also dedicated to growing an active community of cannabis enthusiasts, hosting events like elevated yoga sessions and connecting people through their widely-followed Instagram page.
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