The Government of Ontario has issued regulations that will guide the operations of cannabis stores in the province beginning on April 1 of next year.
Under the just released rules, standalone stores can be open any day of the week between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m., but they must be at least 150 metres away from schools and bar entry to anyone under 19 years of age.
Additionally, the Ontario government has set a market concentration limit of 75 stores per operator. Applications for cannabis store licences will begin on December 17 and illegal cannabis retailers who began operating after the drug was legalized nationally this past October 17 will not be eligible to receive a cannabis sales licence.
Also, licences won't be issued to any person or organization that has an association with organized crime, and applicants must demonstrate their tax compliance status to show they are in good standing with the government in terms of paying their taxes.
Until April 1, 2019, cannabis can only be legally purchased in Ontario online through the provincial government run Ontario Cannabis Store. That online store reported a major data breach of 4,500 customers’ information earlier this week.
