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The volume of cannabis sitting behind the scenes in Canada far outstrips the amount being sold by retailers who complain of shortages, say federal officials.

In December, 7,252 kilograms of bud and 7,127 litres of finished and unfinished oil derivatives were sold legally across the country, according to Health Canada.

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At the end of December, there was more than 128,000 kg of finished and unfinished bud in the inventories of licensed producers, retailers and provincial distributors, along with a total of 65,000 litres of oil, Health Canada said.

“As of the end of December, total inventories of cannabis . . . were nearly 18 times greater than monthly sales,” said Tammy Jarbeau, senior spokeswoman for Health Canada.

“There is not — as some have suggested — a national shortage of supply of cannabis.”

Federally licensed production space now has the capacity to produce 800,000 kg of pot, enough to satisfy annual demand in Canada, said Jarbeau.