Newfoundland and Labrador sold $29.3 million worth of cannabis via its retail and online stores in Q1 2026.
Cannabis sales for products distributed by the Newfoundland and Labrador Cannabis (NLC) distribution centre to retail stores in the province totalled $18.9 million, with $10.4 million from sales where producers sold directly to retailers.
Total retail cannabis sales in the province were down 2.5% year-over-year, which the agency says was mostly due to a decline in product self-distributed by local producers. Sales of cannabis sold through the NLC’s distribution centre increased 2.7% YOY.
Whole flower remains the top cannabis category with 33% of total sales, followed by pre-rolls at 20%, and vape products at 17%.
In Q1, NLC provided $1 million in cannabis producer premiums to local producers. NLC also listed 20 products through local cannabis producers during the quarter.
NLC issued a call for up to fifteen new Tier 4 cannabis stores in the most recent quarter. The expansion focuses primarily on rural and underserved communities to further disrupt the illicit market. Several of these stores are expected to open in Q3.
A Tier 4 Cannabis Retail Location is a convenience-oriented cannabis retail location that sells cannabis and cannabis accessories from the primary retail counter. Only staff older than 19 years of age are eligible to sell cannabis products, and cannabis must be kept out of sight with limited incidental viewing.
At the end of Q1, there were 62 Licensed Cannabis Retailers in Newfoundland and Labrador (LCRs). One location closed during the quarter, a C-Shop Dominion Lake Avenue location in St. John’s; the Herbal Centre opened in nearby Churchill Square.
NLC is a Crown corporation of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, responsible under 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.
NLC has two tiers of retail cannabis stores, Tier 4 and Tier 1. A Tier 1 Cannabis Store is a stand-alone cannabis store with a dedicated exterior entrance; its primary business is selling cannabis, and only persons aged 19 and over may enter. Other products sold may include non-alcoholic beverages and products, other than food, that display a brand element. Tier 1 Cannabis Stores offer a wide selection of products and have specialized service staff. Tier 1 stores can also sell cannabis online.
The NLC scheduled three product call sessions in 2026: one in April, one in July, and one in September. The July product call is for products launching from November 2026 to January 2027. The November 2026 product launch is for products to be shared from February through May 2027. Both are only open to existing product suppliers.
