The Ontario government is moving to an open market for cannabis retail stores.
In an announcement Thursday, the province said the move will give consumers more choice and convenience and a safe, reliable supply of products. The changes include gradually lifting the cap on the number of private cannabis stores, allowing producers to open stores at their facilities, and making available for sale cannabis-related items such as cookbooks. The government states these changes aim to build a safe retail system that combats the illegal cannabis market.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario will begin accepting operator licence applications in January, with store authorizations set to start rolling out in April at a rate of 20 per month. These changes don’t impact the pre-existing rules on private stores, which include directions on how to keep children safe, training requirements, and denying licenses to anyone with certain cannabis-related offences or any associations with organized crime.
In 2017, CMHA Ontario published a government submission detailing an approach to cannabis legalization and regulation that would consider public health as the primary objective. CMHA Ontario continues to advocate for a public health approach, encourages government to consider the role of community-based mental health and addictions services, and suggests revenues generated from cannabis sales should be specifically directed toward mental health and addictions services.
To increase public education around cannabis and its use, CMHA Ontario also worked closely with the Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health, the Ministry for Colleges and Universities, and the Provincial System Support Program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health to create a guide for campuses on how to take a public health approach on campuses in the wake of cannabis legalization.