Ontario allows retailers to own up to 150 cannabis stores

Ontario plans to double the number of cannabis stores a retailer can operate, from 75 to 150, and is proposing to ban cannabis cultivation in homes that provide childcare.

Combating the illicit market more effectively

Ontario's plan to double the number of cannabis stores a retailer can operate, from 75 to 150, is designed to better combat the illicit cannabis market. The current 75-store cap, implemented in 2021, is expected to be revised early next year to provide consumers with more options to purchase cannabis from licensed and regulated sources.

According to Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey, increasing the number of stores is a crucial step in the fight against the influence of the illicit market. Visit The province currently boasts some 1,800 stores Cannabis retailing, with major chains such as Canna Cabana, True North, Sessions and Spiritleaf.

Raj Grover, President and CEO of High Tide Inc., owner of Canna Cabana, which has 63 stores in Ontario, is pleased with the proposed change. Mr. Grover sees it as a positive step towards fostering a competitive environment.

https://twitter.com/RajGrover_HITI/status/1730257302631149710

Childcare facilities and cannabis cultivation

Another aspect proposed by the Improving Access to Justice Act, 2023 is the cultivation of cannabis in homes that provide childcare services. The province is working to ban this practice, citing concerns about the appropriateness and safety of cannabis cultivation in childcare environments.

Attorney General Doug Downey expressed his discomfort with the current situation: «Five years ago, the federal government decided that cannabis would be legal in this country, and part of the new legislation allowed the cultivation of up to four cannabis plants in the home.» He added: «As it stands, cannabis can be grown in home childcare facilities. We find this deeply troubling and inappropriate, and quite frankly, I never imagined we would need to legislate on this point.»

This measure aligns Ontario with British Columbia, which has already implemented a similar restriction. The aim is to strike a balance between personal cultural rights and the need for responsible regulation, particularly in spaces where childcare is provided.