Two weeks after Canada became the first G20 country to legalize cannabis amid much fanfare, numerous stores – both physical and digital – are struggling to meet high demand. In much of the country, the legal supply of marijuana has dried up. “The shortages are happening faster than I would have expected, but our research suggested quite strongly that there would be shortages in the first year of legalization,” said Rosalie Wyonch, a policy analyst at the CD Howe Institute. A mix of regulatory frameworks, retail chain distribution and logistical kinks – including postal strikes – have created fertile ground for the shortages. When Colorado legalized recreational cannabis, it took three years for supply to finally catch up to demand, and Canada could expect a similar delay.