A consumer group based in Toronto is raising red flags about Ontario's new cannabis licensing.
The Consumer Choice Center (CCC) said the regulations threaten consumer choice. Last week, the province announced a policy reversal regarding cannabis retail licences, saying that come April 1, only 25 licences will be granted. The province cited supply issues as the justification for the phased process for retailers. Prior to December 13, Ontario's government planned to proceed with an uncapped licensing system for cannabis retailers.
"Although there are certainly supply issues that stem from poor federal regulations, only having 25 retailers for a province of 14 million people makes Ontario the least accessible province for cannabis consumers," said David Clement, CCC's North American affairs manager.
"The Ontario Government's announcement is troublesome from a consumer's perspective because it is unclear if the Government plans on returning to an uncapped system once supply problems are sorted out," Clement said. "We hope that, at most, this is a short-term measure and that the system will return to an uncapped system once supply shortage issues are resolved."
