Ontario plans to double the number of cannabis stores a retailer can operate from 75 to 150, and proposes banning cannabis cultivation in homes that offer child care.
Better fight the illicit market
Ontario’s plan to double the number of cannabis stores a retailer can operate, from 75 to 150, aims to better combat the illicit cannabis market. The current cap of 75 stores, implemented in 2021, is expected to be revised early next year to provide consumers with more options for purchasing cannabis from licensed and regulated sources.
Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey says increasing the number of stores is a crucial step in combating the influence of the illicit market. The province currently has around 1,800 cannabis retail stores with some major chains like 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, said he was pleased with the proposed change. Mr. Grover considers that this is a positive measure which is part of the objective of promoting a competitive environment.
I’m delighted to see Ontario is moving to combat illegal cannabis sales, by increasing the number of stores that licensed retail operators and their affiliates can operate from 75 to 150, as well as exploring other options to combat the illicit market! https://t.co/raUtrOJoyj
— Raj Grover ???????? (@RajGrover_HITI) November 30, 2023
Childcare facilities and cannabis cultivation
Another aspect proposed by the Access to Justice Improvement Act of 2023: the cultivation of cannabis in homes that provide child care services. The province is working to ban the practice, citing concerns about the appropriateness and safety of growing cannabis in child-friendly environments.
Attorney General Doug Downey expressed his unease 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 of four cannabis plants at home. He added: “As things currently stand, cannabis can be grown in home childcare settings. We find this deeply troubling and inappropriate, and quite frankly, I never imagined we would need to legislate on this. »
The measure brings Ontario in line with British Columbia, which already has a similar restriction in place. The aim is to balance personal cultivation rights with the need for responsible regulation, particularly in spaces where childcare is provided.
