ontario cannabis store rules

Ontario announces rules for cannabis retail stores

Want to open a pot shop? In just over a month, you'll be able to apply for the privilege—unless you have back taxes, an "association with organized crime" or already own a store that sells cannabis.

These are but a few of the regulations released by Ontario's PC government Wednesday night pertaining to private recreational cannabis stores, which will open for business across the province on April 1, 2019.

“本条例的目的是保持孩子safe," said Attorney General Caroline Mulroneyin a news release. "And to ensure all people operating in this tightly-regulated retail system behave with integrity, honesty, and in the public interest."

So, what are they?

Well, for starters, nobody under 19 can enter a private cannabis store. Ever. Not even with their parents.

Stores must also be placed at least 150 metres away from schools and be considered "stand-alone" locations (read: they can't be in strip malls).

Licensed retailers will be able to sell weed between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. every day, under these regulations, with a maximum of 75 stores per operator allowed in Ontario.

Anyone working at one of these stores will be required to complete a government-approved training program in the responsible sale of cannabis.

Applications for licenses to sell will begin on December 17, though the release notes that any "illegal cannabis retailers who were operating after legalization on Oct. 17 will not be eligible to receive cannabis saleslicences."

As it stands now, Ontarians may only purchase marijuana from the province'snot-so-smooth online store. That, or illegally.

Lead photo by

ocs reviews


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversationLoadcomments

Latest in City

People are scrambling to help unforeseen victims of six-alarm Toronto fire and its toxic runoff

People in Ontario just can't stop crashing their cars into buildings

10 magnificent buildings built in Toronto in the 1960s

10 strange and unusual things you might not know about the CNE

The lost beauty of the TTC's original colour scheme

This hidden library might be Toronto's most beautiful room

Photos from the 1980s in Toronto show how much the city has changed since then

This is what the CNE used to look like in Toronto