The early bird gets the edibles.

Cannabis 2.0 products have touched down in Winnipeg and the new THC-infused treats are flying off the shelves faster than retailers can stock them.

“A lot of people have been waiting for this for a long time,” Trevor Duncan, manager of a Delta 9 Cannabis shop, told the Winnipeg Free Press. “It’s really nice to see this happening right before the holidays.”

Duncan said his store in Osborne Village didn’t start selling its first shipment of cannabis-infused chocolate bars until Wednesday evening and still moved more than 100 of the new items by the time he closed shop. A new delivery of gummies, cookies and chocolate bars arrived on Thursday, he said, but supplies are going fast.

Winnipeg currently has 14 retail cannabis stores. All but two of them had received their first shipments by Thursday afternoon, and all were patiently waiting for reinforcements of the popular products.

“That’s kind of the curse of the industry right now,” said Angie Bohne, team lead at Garden Variety. “It’s just a waiting game.”

Bohne, who noted she received gummies and soft-baked cookies Thursday, said it isn’t easy to keep up with demand. “We’ve had well over 40 calls in the last couple of days from people just regarding edibles and vape purchases,” she said.

“There’s a lot more people going to take advantage of the edible market instead of the smoking market, so it opens up a lot of doors for new people to come in.”

Chocolate bars are a great place for novice cannabis users to begin their education, Duncan said, because the entire bar contains a 10 mg dose of THC and taking a small bite allows consumers to ease into the experience. “You’re breaking off a piece and starting with two or 2 1/2 mg, which is way more beneficial when you’re getting started,” he said. “Start low, go slow.”

Retailers are warning new customers — who must be 19 or older in Manitoba — that it can take up to two hours to feel the full effects of an edible.

If they can find one, that is.