FREDERICTON, N.B. – Opportunities NB held a media briefing Wednesday to discuss growth plans for cannabis industries. Cannabis services and products have been identified as a key opportunity for growth in the New Brunswick Economic Growth Plan.
Finance Minister Cathy Rogers said government is committed to ensuring the legalization of cannabis is introduced in a responsible way.
“The legislative framework . . . government has introduced will focus on public health and safety. While those elements are our priorities, we will also take advantage of the economic opportunities offered by the legalization of recreational cannabis.”
Ever since the federal government announced it would pursue legalization of cannabis, the provincial government and Opportunities NB have been working to position New Brunswick as a leader in the sector. Opportunities NB is a Crown corporation that seeks to attract and support opportunities to grow the economy and create jobs.
New Brunswick has an established ecosystem within the cannabis sector. The Research and Productivity Council is a world-class research and testing facility that provides testing services for the majority of the medical cannabis produced in Canada.
“As legalization becomes a reality, it is important that New Brunswickers are aware of the responsible steps their government is taking to position our province for the future,” said Stephen Lund, CEO of Opportunities NB. “New Brunswick has a skilled labour force, a thriving startup community, a cutting-edge research sector, and experience exporting high-quality agricultural products. Where opportunities exist, Opportunities NB will continue to work hard to support good-paying jobs for New Brunswick families.”
The Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick has established Canada’s first post-secondary program in cannabis cultivation, and private sector partnerships have already been established at many of the province’s other colleges and universities.
The University of New Brunswick and Tetra BioPharma have partnered to conduct research on the biochemistry and pharmacology of cannabis. St. Thomas University has partnered with Shoppers Drug Mart on research projects of its own. In addition, the Université de Moncton has been researching the use of cannabis for pest control and crop propagation.
