Insights from the ground: A qualitative investigation of retailer perspectives of the challenges and opportunities in the legal cannabis market in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

This study highlights how NL's cannabis retail system, designed to balance public health protection with market development, may inadvertently limit participation and business sustainability. The study illustrates how regulatory design can shape retailer experiences and market dynamics, underscoring the need to assess whether current regulations are achieving their intended outcomes. While focused on NL, these findings offer valuable insights for other jurisdictions with similar regulatory models, emphasizing the importance of aligning policy design with retailers' experiences to foster a more inclusive, sustainable, and public health-oriented cannabis retail sector.