Shopify to sell cannabis in Ontario

Shopify, a web platform that makes it easy to build an e-commerce site, has signed an agreement with the Ontario government to become the province's online and mobile cannabis sales portal.

«Our top priority is to respect the province's regulatory framework for safe and reasonable retail sales when cannabis is legalized by the federal government,» explained George Soleas, president of the Ontario Liquor Control Board, which also regulates cannabis via the’Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation (OCRC).

«We look forward to combining our expertise as a responsible seller with the world-renowned Shopify commerce solution to provide a safe, reliable and knowledgeable shopping experience for our future customers.»

Shopify's technology will also be used in Ontario's physical stores to process iPad transactions and display product information and health recommendations on-screen. On the government side, the province will use the Shopify solution to manage inventory, accounting and human resources.

All that remains now is for OCRC to determine the design of its future platform, with the legalization of cannabis in Canada in its sights. scheduled for next July.

In addition to online sales, Ontario will open a first wave of 40 stores, rising to 150 by 2020. Cannabis will only be available via the government's online platform or in state stores, unlike in Alberta or the British Columbia which will authorize private stores to sell cannabis.

Shopify is no stranger to cannabis. It already hosts Canopy Growth and Tweed.