With 10 weeks to go till legalization, Ontario doesn’t appear to have ordered any pot

With 10 weeks to go until marijuana legalization, Global News cannot find any evidence that any cannabis has been ordered for Ontario consumers.

A survey of news releases for investors issued by five major licenced producers (LPs) going back to last year shows contracts large and small with most provinces, but not Ontario.

On July 5, for example, four LPs announced supply contracts with Alberta for that province’s first six months of legalization. Canopy Growth will supply 15,000 kilograms, Aurora 25,000 kilograms, Aphira 870 kilograms and Medreleaf an unspecified quantity.

LPs often announce large supply deals with provinces and territories — Quebec, British Columbia, Yukon, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador and PEI.

Prominent by its absence, though, is Canada’s most populous province.

As the clock ticks toward legalization, it’s not clear what Ontario’s plans for selling cannabis are. A Globe and Mailstory in late July asserted that the PCs would bring in government-operated online sales and let the private sector run bricks-and-mortar stores. It’s not clear whether these stores would co-exist with public-sector stores or replace them.

That would be a change of approach from the one designed by Ontario’s previous Liberal government, which called for a completely public-sector cannabis retail system.

The Globe‘s story has been neither confirmed nor contradicted. Ontario has not announced its new approach to cannabis or said when it will do so.



Alan Carter

@ACarterglobal
https://twitter.com/ACarterglobal/status/1026828790960467968

.@FordNation refuses to talk about reports of private sales of cannabis. Won't talk weed. Today is about beer he says. #onpoli

9:53 AM - Aug 7, 2018

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The Ontario Cannabis Store has not made a public announcement since early April.

Earlier this year, the OCS issued a product call to would-be cannabis suppliers, with a deadline of May 2. They were asked to submit a detailed report on the cannabis products they wanted to sell, providing 120 separate pieces of information about each, from strength to the quantities that would be available on a series of dates to quality (‘good,’ better’ or ‘best’.)

However, it’s not clear whether the OCS went on to award contracts based on the information provided.

READ MORE: Is Ontario planning a mix of public, private retail cannabis stores?

WATCH: ‘We must protect the children’: Ford on location of cannabis sales


We asked the OCS for details about what producers they had signed supply contracts with, for what quantities, and in what forms.

“We’re continuing to work with prospective licensed producers, and will be providing an update soon,” an OCS spokesperson wrote in an e-mail in which he asked not to be identified.

“The Ontario Cannabis Store is focused on ensuring the province is ready for cannabis legalization, and is committed to working closely with the Ontario government.”

READ MORE: Ontario pot sales will only be online to start: experts

Aphria doesn’t have a supply contract signed with Ontario, spokesperson Olivia Pineau confirmed.

“It’s definitely something that hasn’t been finalized at this point, but we still have some time before legalization,” she said. “I think all licenced producers, including Aphria, are preparing behind the scenes and are ready to negotiate and sign those agreements when the time comes.”

“In terms of there being enough supply, I think all licenced producers at this point are working their best to ensure that that’s the main objective. We don’t want that to be a concern.”

The situation raises questions about what would happen after Oct. 17 if recreational marijuana is legal, but Ontario hasn’t set up a legal retail system — bricks-and-mortar or online — capable of coping with demand.

READ MORE: Ontario’s much-criticized pot store logo pitched as ‘inviting, not youthful’ and ‘contemporary, not trendy’

WATCH: Extended tour of Canada’s largest government-approved pot greenhouse


Last week, the London Free Press reported that Ontario had put hiring on hold for the Cannabis Intelligence Coordination Centre, a police agency designed to shut down dispensaries after legalization.

Under legalization, Ontario residents won’t be allowed to order marijuana from other provinces, but will be able to personally bring it in from elsewhere in the country, so long as they stay within the federal limit of 30 grams.

(Ironically, some of Canada’s biggest cannabis production facilities are in Ontario — Aphira’s vast greenhouse in Leamington, for example, or Canopy Growth’s 500,000-square-foot converted chocolate factory in Smiths Falls.)

READ MORE: Smiths Falls cannabis company brings growth to community ahead of legalization

© 2018 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Re

Go private sector!

BOYCOTT LP"S...it's almost time folks.
Don't be their sap.
They hate you anyway...they just happen to enjoy your money though..so it's hard for them to put up with you.

I’m curious what the supply chain will look like. In the provisions it allows acmpr to supply...but for how long?

“When new cannabis regulations take effect this October, upon legalization, a provision will be added allowing Health Canada to refuse to issue or renew a personal medical marijuana grow licence if it "would likely create a risk to public health or public safety, including the risk of cannabis being diverted to an illegal market or use.”

kiiiindaaaa goes with my “get your renewal in before oct 17” you just may get denied afterwards

denied?

no one needs approval..

gb123 said:

denied?

no one needs approval..

Click to expand...

Medically? Correct, it’s an authorization. Not sure what kind of fuckery there trying to pull but fuckery non the less

bigmanc said:

I’m curious what the supply chain will look like. In the provisions it allows acmpr to supply...but for how long?

“When new cannabis regulations take effect this October, upon legalization, a provision will be added allowing Health Canada to refuse to issue or renew a personal medical marijuana grow licence if it "would likely create a risk to public health or public safety, including the risk of cannabis being diverted to an illegal market or use.”

kiiiindaaaa goes with my “get your renewal in before oct 17” you just may get denied afterwards

Click to expand...

Seems as vague as can be. Until they state specifics in terms of what amount would pose a risk and exactly HOW it would increase risk of diversion if was never an issue before.

You can go back to screaming the sky is falling...........as usual lol

CalyxCrusher said:

Seems as vague as can be. Until they state specifics in terms of what amount would pose a risk and exactly HOW it would increase risk of diversion if was never an issue before.

You can go back to screaming the sky is falling...........as usual lol

Click to expand...

You feel no medical product from mmar or acmpr grows was diverted? The clip explains what your asking, your sky is falling mine is prosperous

bigmanc said:

Medically? Correct, it’s an authorization. Not sure what kind of fuckery there trying to pull but fuckery non the less

Click to expand...

They want to deny med patients...simple.