Ontario delays start date of retail cannabis sales

[webfact]

Ontario delays start date of retail cannabis sales

By Nichola Saminather

 

A marijuana plant is seen at the The Global Marijuana March in Toronto, May 7, 2011. Demonstrators took part in a march to support the legalization of marijuana. REUTERS/Mark Blinch

 

TORONTO (Reuters) - Ontario's newly elected conservative government said on Monday it will delay the start date of recreational marijuana sales in the province and will allow private retailers to sell cannabis rather than government-run stores.

 

Ontario will allow private retailers to sell recreational marijuana starting on April 1, officials from the province's Progressive Conservative government told a news conference, abandoning its predecessor's plans for government-controlled stores starting on Oct. 17.

 

While Canada will be the first Group of Seven nation to legalize recreational cannabis in October, it has chosen to make a cautious start. Many provincial governments, including the previous Liberal government in Ontario, have planned a small number of stores to start with and tight control over supply.

 

Ontario's new conservative Premier Doug Ford, however, prefers a more laissez-faire approach and had hinted at a shift to a private retail model before his election in June. In March, he told CBC Radio he did not believe in "the government sticking their hands in our lives all the time."

 

The province will begin consultations with several groups including businesses, consumer groups, municipalities and law enforcement next week and will examine the retail models planned by Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Ontario Attorney General Caroline Mulroney said at the news conference.

 

Between October and April, cannabis will be available only online, Ontario Finance Minister Vic Fedeli said at the news conference, which was broadcast by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

 

"The system we’re proposing marks a significant departure from the approach of the previous government," Fedeli said. "Implementing this new approach will take time."

 

The initial Liberal government plan was for 40 stores across Ontario in the first year, rising to 150 by the end of 2020 - all run by the provincial liquor board.

 

Fedeli and Mulroney did not say how many retail licenses will be issued or whether any of the multitudes of illegal dispensaries that currently operate will be able to apply, but added that more details will be released as the consultation advances.

 

The province will remain the wholesaler to retailers under the new framework, similar to the previous one.

 

Fedeli emphasized that safety and prevention of sales to underaged users will remain paramount.

 

"If a private retailer is caught selling cannabis to any underage buyer even once, their licence is done," he said. "And for those engaged in the underground today, our message is simple: stop."

 

(Reporting by Nichola Saminather in Toronto; Editing by David Gregorio and Matthew Lewis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-08-14

[bobbin]

The biggest province in Canada is trying this on? Allowing private retailers isn't enough trade off for delaying easy access for almost 6 months..

 

This will be interesting. I'm guessing this "plan" will not survive the push-back..

[pegman]

Well, if anybody knows about the retail selling of cannabis it's Premier Doug Ford, 555.

 

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/05/toronto-deputy-mayor-doug-ford-robs-brother-former-hash-dealer/314893/

[JCauto]

Well, the first thing he's managed to get right - allowing private sector sales - is balanced by the stupidity of further pushing back implementation to April. What's the point? The private sales network is already well established, and the only thing that stops it is police deciding in various precincts to raid them. Once the raids stop, you'll have neighbourhood stores everywhere. And why the hell not? Why do we have to give our money to the damn Beer Store or LCBO?

 

By the way, to answer my own question, the point is that Ford never wanted legalization and this is just another way for him to delay it.

[pegman]

20 minutes ago, JCauto said:

Well, the first thing he's managed to get right - allowing private sector sales - is balanced by the stupidity of further pushing back implementation to April. What's the point? The private sales network is already well established, and the only thing that stops it is police deciding in various precincts to raid them. Once the raids stop, you'll have neighbourhood stores everywhere. And why the hell not? Why do we have to give our money to the damn Beer Store or LCBO?

 

By the way, to answer my own question, the point is that Ford never wanted legalization and this is just another way for him to delay it.

Yup, he likely still has cronies making a lucrative living on the black market.